Assam police raze houses of people who set police station on fire

In response to setting their police station in Assam’s Nagaon on fire, the authorities on Sunday (May 22) dispatched bulldozers to demolish the houses of the families who had been allegedly involved in the arson after an alleged custodial death.

The police told the media that a mob of about 40 people from Salonabori village had set fire to a part of the Batadrava police station on Saturday afternoon after an alleged custodial death of a local resident, Sofikul Islam. A judicial probe had been immediately ordered into the death and the officer in-charge of the Batadrava station has been suspended.

A fish trader from Salonabori village, Islam had been brought to the police station on a complaint that he was “drunk.” By the next morning he was dead. While the police claimed that Islam died after his wife picked him and took him to the hospital, his family alleged that she found him dead at the hospital.

According to the statement issued by the office of Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), Islam was released and handed over to his wife on Saturday morning. He was given water and food by his wife and later he had complained of sickness and he was taken to two hospitals, one after another.

“Unfortunately he was declared dead,” said the statement.

Islam’s family members however claimed that the Batadrava station police had demanded ₹10,000 and a duck as a bribe for his release. Hence, she had visited the police station with a duck on Saturday morning and when she returned with the money later, she learnt that her husband had been taken to Nagaon Civil Hospital.

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“After reaching there, she found him dead,” villagers told PTI.

A few hours later, a mob gheraoed the police station and set a part of it ablaze. There are videos circulating on social media on the incident, which shows a woman sprinkling liquid on a scooter in the station and setting it on fire.

However, on Sunday morning, the authorities sent bulldozers to the village situated about 6 km from the station, to destroy the homes of “those who were involved in setting fire to the police station”.

Meanwhile, Barpeta Congress MP Abdul Khaleque slammed the government’s move. “We never support attack on police station. But bulldozing houses of attackers by police is direct violation of human rights,” he tweeted.

We never support attack on police station . But buldozing houses of attackers by police is direct violation of human rights.

— Abdul Khaleque (@MPAbdulKhaleque) May 22, 2022

থানা জ্বলাই দিয়া কাৰ্য কোনোপধ্যে সমৰ্থন যোগ্য নহয় l কিন্তু থানা আক্ৰমণকাৰী সকলৰ ঘৰ বুলদজাৰেৰে আৰক্ষীৰ দ্বাৰা ভাঙি পেলোৱা টো মানৱ অধিকাৰ ৰ প্ৰত্যক্ষ উলঙ্ঘন l pic.twitter.com/tt37h2vihZ

— Abdul Khaleque (@MPAbdulKhaleque) May 22, 2022

The police claimed they have identified and arrested seven and picked up 21 of the 40 people. Senior police officials told the media that strong action will be taken against the police officers connected to the alleged custodial death.

But the police also pointed out that they will not tolerate arson, and residents setting fire to the police station. The DGP office statement said that they have suspended their officer they would be “even tougher” against elements involved in the arson. “While we will not let go any police personnel found guilty, we will act even tougher against elements who think that they can escape the Indian justice system, by burning down police stations. We will simply not allow this. Let this be the first and last warning to all antisocial/criminal elements,” the statement said.