Guwahati. A Crime Investigation Department (CED) investigation in Assam has confirmed that a man was mistaken for a dacoit and killed in an ‘encounter’ by the police in Udalguri district on the basis of “mistaken identity”.
A senior official gave this information on Saturday. Investigation revealed that the deceased was not the dacoit Kenaram Boro alias Kenaram Basumatary, but his name was Dimbeshwar Muchahari. His family claims he was a small farmer but the police claim he was a ‘hard criminal’.
The police had claimed that two policemen were also injured in an “encounter” that took place on February 24 at Dhansirikhuti village in Rauta area. Boro’s mother identified the body as that of her son after which the body was handed over to her. However, after the body was cremated, Muchahari’s family claimed that he was their son. A complaint was lodged with the police, following which Chief Minister Himanta Vishwa Sharma directed the Director General of Police to order a CID probe, which began on March 2.
Based on inquiry by CID, it was revealed that the dead body is that of Dimbeswar Machahary son of Lt Guniram Machahary of Jengrengpara village under Gobardhana PS of Baska district. Dead body was handed over to family members: SP CID, Guwahati
— ANI (@ANI) Mar 11, 2023
Thereafter, the body was exhumed and DNA analysis was done which revealed that the body was of Muchahari and not Boro, the police officer said. He said that the investigation report would be submitted to the government soon and the body has been handed over to Muchahari’s family. Muchahari’s family said they wanted justice as the police killed their son on suspicion of being a dacoit.
The cousin of the deceased said, “We will now perform the necessary rituals. He was a small farmer and the government should give necessary compensation.” Police said Boro, a former NDFB terrorist, was wanted in several cases of dacoities in Assam and Meghalaya and had been arrested several times earlier with weapons. Muchahari alias Gobla was also a “hard criminal” and had been arrested with weapons earlier as well. Both were shown absconding in one case. (agency)