Shooting criminals trying to escape should be pattern: Assam CM stirs controversy

Shooting criminals trying to escape from police custody “should be the pattern”, said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday.

While interacting with all Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of the state’s many police stations on “Redefining Policing Standards in Assam”, the Assam Chief Minister issued directions to police to strictly deal with crimes against women and show zero tolerance towards such crimes.

“Someone told me that the criminals running away from police custody for the last several days, are being shot, and it has become a pattern. I said this should be the pattern,” said Sarma

“If an accused tries to snath service gun and run away and on top of it he is, say, a rapist, then the police can shoot at him on the leg, but not on the chest. The law allows it,” he added.