Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Justifying the series of encounters in Assam since he assumed office, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday asserted that shooting at criminals "should be the pattern" if they attempt to escape from custody or try to snatch arms from the police to open fire. A rising number of encounters, which have seen at least a dozen suspected insurgents and criminals being shot dead as they "tried to escape" from custody, has whipped up a political furore in Assam. "If an accused tries to snatch the service gun and run away, or even simply flee, and on top of it he is, say, a rapist, law allows shooting at such a person on the leg, but not on the chest," Sarma said at the first ever face-to-face meeting with the Officers In-Charge (OCs) of all police stations of Assam.