New Delhi: On the evening of 18 July, the Delhi Hmar Welfare Association mourned the death of 19-year-old Lallungawi Hmar, who, along with two other men, was killed in an encounter with the Assam police. The condolence programme reflected the community’s grief and outrage following the incident, which has sparked widespread controversy and allegations of a “fake encounter” by the Assam Police.
According to Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP) Numal Mahatta, there was an exchange of firing that continued for over an hour in which three policemen were injured. He also mentioned that the police fired in self-defense.
“Three militants were shot; they were taken to the Silchar Medical College, where the attending doctor declared them dead,” SP Mahatta told PTI.
The district police have stated that three Hmar extremists — two from Assam and one from Manipur — were involved in drug trafficking. They were operating from the Bhuban Hills jungles, roughly 15 km from where they were apprehended with arms in an autorickshaw.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the news in an X post Wednesday.
“In an early morning operation, @cacharpolice killed 3 Hmar militants from Assam and neighbouring Manipur. Police also recovered 2 AK rifles, 1 other rifle, and 1 pistol. @gpsinghips,” his post stated.
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The other two men have been identified as Lalbiekkung Hmar, residing in K. Bethel Village, Bhunankhal Dilkush Grant, Lakhipur, Cachar District, Assam; and Joshua, residing in Senvon Lailak, Tipaimukh Sub Division, Pherzawl District, Manipur.
Alleged videos of the incident on X have intensified the Hmar community’s demands for justice. They have also raised questions about the encounter.
One of these videos shows the police interrogating three men in an autorickshaw. Another video depicts a policeman leading one of the arrested men, hands tied, to a secluded area, accompanied by three men in black T-shirts. Relatives of 19-year-old Lallungawi have noted discrepancies, pointing out that the dead bodies in photos were wearing vests and camouflage gear, unlike in the autorickshaw video where they were arrested.
ThePrint has not independently verified these videos. ThePrint also reached SP Mahatta via text. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
“When I watch the pictures and video clips, it seems like they were just sitting quietly in the auto-rickshaw when the police arrived and arrested them. The entire scene looks very staged and scripted,” said 26-year-old Vanthar Mawi, Lallungawi’s sister, also questioning how the men had time to wear vests and camouflage gear before running away. She added that her family back home got information of her brother’s death through these social media videos.
Born into a family of farmers, 19-year-old Lallungawi used to help his father in the fields in Cachar. “Even if he had done something wrong, they should have imprisoned him. Why resort to killing?” asked Vanthar while speaking to ThePrint.
The Hmar Inpui, the apex body of the Hmar tribe, too has accused the Assam Police of having carried out a “fake encounter”.
“Hmar Inpui is shocked and appalled to learn about the…extrajudicial killings…The Assam Police allegedly arrested the three individuals at Kabugany-Amyur Road under Kachudharam Police Station, Cachar, Assam,” the Hmar Inpui said in a statement.
The organisation has demanded an independent magisterial inquiry into the incident, immediate disciplinary action against the responsible officers, and compensation for the families of the deceased.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)