Assam police to reopen all 1-yr-old cases of unnatural deaths

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked The Assam Police on Friday, to re-open all cases related to unnatural deaths that happened during the last one year in the state. The CM said “In the recently held conference with the superintendents of police, I have instructed to re-examine the similar cases where the unnatural deaths were closed by the police or court terming those cases as suicides,”

“From now on, before closing any cases of unnatural deaths, SP and DIG will join the probe”, Sarma added. Moreover, he also stated that the unnatural deaths that happened due to accidents and murders will also be revisited by the police. Meanwhile, Chief Minister also said that if any person is dissatisfied with a case related to suicide, accident, etc., the police can be asked to reopen those cases even if it is 15-year-old. According to Sarma, criminal cases do not necessarily have any timeframe.

Terming the recent case of Darrang district as an ‘eye-opener’, CM Sarma said that following the incident he had asked the police whether a new law is needed to check the brutality against the minors and domestic help. He further said that top police officials believe that IPC and POCSO are sufficient in such cases, but a solid Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is required to implement them. “The state government is considering about introducing a new SOP regarding the engagement of domestic helps in the state,” Sarma added.