Tue Mar 04 13:30:43 UTC 2025: ## Assam Opposition Accuses Government of “Police Raj” Following Release of Encounter Data

**Guwahati, Assam – March 4, 2025** – The Assam Congress party has accused the BJP government of operating a “police raj,” citing newly released data showing a significant number of deaths and injuries in police actions since Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took office in May 2021. Official documents presented to the state assembly reveal that 72 individuals were killed and 220 injured in 256 police actions between May 10, 2021, and February 23, 2025.

Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia called for the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of this new data, which he claims reveals a disregard for the rule of law. The Supreme Court is already hearing a case concerning 171 alleged fake encounters in the state. Saikia argues that the fresh data necessitates a further hearing before a verdict is delivered. He alleges that the ruling party is using the police for political gain.

The data shows that 38 deaths occurred while individuals were in police remand, and another 34 died in custody before being formally remanded. A further 181 people sustained bullet wounds while in remand, with 40 more injured before remand. The highest number of deaths (31) occurred in 2021, the year Sarma assumed office.

While the government claims that police cases were registered in accordance with relevant laws and NHRC guidelines, and that magisterial inquiries were conducted in 175 of the 256 cases, the opposition contests this assertion. The lack of inquiries in the remaining 81 cases, along with the high number of deaths and injuries, fuels the opposition’s claims of excessive force and extrajudicial killings.

The Assam government previously informed the Supreme Court that it had followed 2014 guidelines regarding police encounters. However, the release of this new data is expected to reignite the political debate surrounding the use of force by Assam Police.

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