Shoot Criminals If They Try to Escape: Assam CM Justifies Encounter Killings Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma asserted that shooting at criminals "should be the pattern" if they attempt to escape from custody Outlook Web Bureau 06 July 2021, Last Updated at 10:01 am File Photo Outlook Web Bureau 2021-07-06T09:43:33+05:30 Shoot Criminals If They Try to Escape: Assam CM Justifies Encounter Killings outlookindia.com 2021-07-06T10:01:18+05:30 Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma justified the series of encounters in the state since he assumed office and said shooting should be the pattern if criminals try to escape. 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.