facts

171: Total number of incidents brought to the notice of the court by the Assam government. They occurred between May 2021 and August 2022

Losses – 56 people died, 139 people were injured

The people hit by the bullet were mostly rape and murder suspects, alleged drug and cattle dealers.

Details on the total number of cases after August 2022 are not available

People question the abilities of police staff after detainees are increasingly being shot in the legs as they try to escape

The state’s crime rate per 1 lakh population dropped from 387.5 in 2019 to 183.1 in 2023. This was a 52% decrease.

Major events from May 2021 to August 2022

July 8, 2021: Dibrugarh cattle smuggler Mohammad Akhtar Raja Khan alias Tiklu Khan was injured in firing while trying to escape from custody.

July 3, 2021: Two arrested persons, Abul Hussain Barbhuiya alias Abu (26) and Kamrul Islam alias Lakoi (35), were killed by police firing while allegedly trying to escape.

July 7, 2021: Akhtar Raja Khan, arrested for cattle theft, was shot in the leg while trying to escape.

July 9, 2021: Tapan Buragohain, 26. Shot in the leg while trying to escape from police custody. ONGC kidnapping suspect

July 9, 2021: Jeharul Islam, 30. Reputed human trafficker. Police shot him in the leg while trying to escape

July 11, 2021: Joynal Abedin, 47. Killed by police gunfire. Charged with dacoity and armed robbery

July 15, 2021: Asadul Islam, who was on trial in the drug trafficking case, was shot and killed during an encounter with the police

22 July 2021: ULFA (I) chief Babul Deka injured in police firing

25 July 2021: Drug dealer Kawsar Ahmed injured in police firing

22 August 2021: 3 armed dacoits killed in police opening fire

October 18, 2021: Drug dealer Rahul Prasad was seriously injured when police opened fire while trying to escape

September 19, 2021: Escaped robber injured by police shooting, drug dealers fled after being shot

September 23, 2021: Arrested child murderer shot in the foot by police while trying to escape

November 21, 2021: Three defendants were injured when the police opened fire in three different places while trying to escape from custody

January 15, 2022: Suspected ATM thief Mussadik Hussain injured in police firing

January 25, 2022: Suspected drug dealer shot in the foot by police

January 22, 2022: A leader of the All Assam Students’ Union was shot in the foot by police in Nagaon district

January 29, 2022: Escaping criminal Sariful Hussain alias Moina Miya was shot in the foot by police in Karimganj.

February 17, 2022: Suspected marijuana smuggler injured in police firing in Kokrajhar

11 March 2022: Two drug dealers injured in police firing in Lakhimpur

March 17, 2022: Two alleged rapists killed in separate police shootouts while trying to escape custody

March 16, 2022: Biki Ali, the prime suspect in a rape case, was shot dead by the police

March 22, 2022: Accused Harindra Ram shot in left leg by police

March 26, 2022: Criminal Kamal Gogoi, nicknamed Pappu, was injured by a bullet in his left leg when the police opened fire while he was escaping from custody.

April 8, 2022: Jeherul Islam, accused of drug dealing, injured in police firing in Morigaon

April 21, 2022: The man arrested in the rape case was hit by a bullet in his leg when the police opened fire while trying to escape.