Guwahati, Nov 30: A total of 80 people have died in police custody or encounters in Assam since 2021, Minister Rupesh Goala informed the Assembly on Saturday, adding that magisterial inquiries were conducted in 78 of these cases.
Replying to a question from Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on the final day of the winter session, Goala said 39 deaths occurred in police custody, while 41 people died before being produced in court.
He provided a year-wise breakdown of custodial and encounter deaths: 31 in 2021, 18 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 10 in 2024, and eight deaths recorded till November 19 this year.
The minister also said that 223 suspected criminals were injured in police encounters during the same period. Police firing resulted in 67 injuries in 2021, 79 in 2022, 35 in 2023, 35 in 2024, and seven so far this year.
Goala informed the House that 180 magisterial inquiries were conducted under Section 174 of the CrPC, and 194 inquiries under Section 194(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). All inquiries, he said, followed NHRC guidelines, which mandate submission of reports within 48 hours of any death during police action.
He added that a high-level probe was completed into the alleged encounter killing of three Hmar youths in Cachar district.
During the session, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia also sought details on prison capacity and conditions across the state. In response, the minister said Assam’s jails have a combined capacity of 11,372 inmates, and 11,241 prisoners are currently lodged across various facilities.
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