In Assam’s Nagaon, bulldozers razed down several homes in Salonbari village on Sunday morning. Police officers said the houses demolished were “illegal” and belonged to those involved in setting fire to the Batadrava police station (in Dhing circle).
Earlier, Safikul Islam, a fish trader from Salonbari village, was picked up by the police on complaints he was drunk. However, he died the following day.
According to the family, Police personnel demanded a duck and Rs.10,000 as a bribe to release him. Though the family offered a duck on Friday night for securing Islam’s release, they claim cops sent them back to arrange the money. When the family returned to the police station on Saturday morning, they found him unwell. So they took him to a civil hospital after being referred by a nearby dispensary. But he died en route.
Saturday morning, police handed over Safikul Islam to his wife. A statement from the DGP office says, “His wife even gave him some water/food. Later he complained of sickness and was taken to two hospitals one after another. Unfortunately, he was declared dead.”
Safikul Islam’s death after custody led to a mob of 40 people attacking the Batadrava police station and setting a part of it on fire on Saturday afternoon. However, in what appears to be a retaliatory move, the administration has razed down houses of people involved in the arson, calling them illegal constructions.
Assam special DGP (law and order) GP Singh said, “There were about 40 people in the mob,” adding, police have identified and arrested eight people and detained fifteen. Also, a woman and minor were picked up for inquiry. He stated that the demolished homes belonged to illegal settlers holding forged documents.
Speaking to a News daily, Singh has said, “We have ordered an independent probe into the alleged custodial death, and if any officer is found guilty, we will take strong action. But such an allegation does not mean you set fire to a police station. You don’t target the police and expect nothing to happen. Arson cannot be allowed.”
The district administration said there is an independent judicial probe to ascertain the cause of Safikul Islam’s death and if it was a custodial one. The government has also set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the mob attack.
Meanwhile, videos of a woman sprinkling some liquid on a scooter inside the police station and setting it on fire have surfaced. DGP Singh added that SIT would find out whether the arson was a pre-planned move and cases linked to Jihadi outfits will be probed. He also warned, “We will simply not allow this. Let this be the first and last warning to all antisocial/criminal elements.”
On Sunday evening, briefing the press, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “A police station was burnt down. Till our government is in power, we will not pardon such crimes.” On the demolition drive, he added, “I have directed the district administration to identify such areas. We will take action — either through eviction or other laws — against any element trying to disturb the peace of Assam.”
Condemning authorities razing down the houses, Barpeta Congress MP Abdul Khaleque tweeted, “We never support an attack on a police station. But bulldozing houses of attackers by(the) police is a direct violation of human rights.”
Reference: The Indian Express
Image Source: PTI