DIMAPUR: In an incident that places a big question mark on public safety, a security personnel opened fire on civilians, killing one and grievously wounding another.
A preliminary inquiry suggests the shooting was unprovoked, while the police maintained that it was a ‘ case of stray incident involving a personnel who acted beyond the standard operating procedure”.
The victims identified as Dipanker Dey and Mitlesh Sahu, were in an autorickshaw when they were fired upon by a policemen who was on patrol duty. Dey later succumbed to his bullet injury at the district hospital, while Sahu was admitted for treatment of bullet wounds.
The security man whose identity was disclosed by the police as ‘Hay’ Samzai Zeliang was commanding a section of the 13th NAP (IR). According to the police and media reports, “ the section was moving towards the Rail Bazar during which time the section commander halted one unregistered autorickshaw approaching their direction. It was around 10.30 pm.”
But before the autorickshaw could come to a halt, the section commander opened fire from his service riflee (An AK 47). The bullet went through the windshield hitting Sahu, the driver on the shoulder. The bullet exited Sahu’s body and hit Dey on the chest, who was in the passenger seat. There were two other passengers along with Dey who were unhurt. .
As per the police report,Dey sustained splinter wounds on the shoulder and neck as well. He was a resident of Kuda village and from Assam. The injured Sahu is from Samastipur, Bihar.
The erring personnel was arrested and his service weapon seized, the police said, while a criminal case was registered at sub-urban police station.
The Dimapur police terming the incident as unfortunate described the action of the personnel as ‘uncalled for’ and assured ‘appropriate action against those guilty
Reacting on the issue, the Director General of Police LL Doungel issued an statement that a departmental inquiry has been ordered. “The jawan has been placed under suspension and is in custody. The DGP further said that the commanding officer of the 13th NAP(IR) was ordered to conduct preliminary inquiry and submit report as the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Dimapur Bengali Community condemned the incident. The community has asked the state government to provide adequate compensation to the family of Dipankar Dey.