Police firing at Dhola kills 1, curfew imposed in Darrang

MANGALDAI, Jan 10: Tension simmers in areas under Dhola police station in Darrang district following the death of two persons – one allegedly in police custody and another in police firing. Two others, including a teeged girl, also sustained bullet injuries.

According to reports, an angry mob numbering more than a thousand attacked Dhola police station on Wednesday, following the death of a person – Hasan Ali – allegedly in police custody the previous day. Failing to pacify the angry mob through appeals on loudspeakers, the police had to resort to baton-charge, before opening fire at around 10.30 am on Wednesday morning. 

In the firing, one protester, identified as Moidul Islam (28), was killed, while several others were injured, including a few policemen. Two of the injured who sustained bullet injuries are Mustafa Ali (40) and Gul Reha (18).

An indefinite curfew has been clamped in the area, even as Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has asked Additiol Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu to conduct an inquiry into the entire incident. 

Earlier, Hasan Ali was picked by the police from Atakata village on Tuesday midnight on the suspicion of hiding firearms at his residence, and taken for interrogation. While in police custody, Ali's health deteriorated. He was first taken to Mangaldai Civil Hospital and subsequently shifted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital, where he was declared brought dead on Wednesday morning.

As soon as report of Ali's death spread, an angry mob blockaded NH-15  for more than 3 hours from 7 am on Wednesday morning and then gathered in front of Dhola police station, demanding action against its officer-in-charge Ranjit Hazarika. They alleged that Ali had died due to inhuman torture by the OC. Soon the crowd swelled to over a thousand and turned violent, pelting stones at security personnel and officials of civil administration on duty, injuring DSP (HQ) Debo Ranjan Sarma and five other police persons.  They also damaged vehicles nearby, including those belonging to the police. 

As the incident spiralled out of control, the police resorted to baton-charge and then opened fire. 

Meanwhile, the police have taken into custody the officer-in-charge of Dhola PS, Sub-Inspector Ranjit Hazarika, in connection with the alleged custodial death. Talking to The Sentinel this evening, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman confirmed the development. 

Hazarika, at about 3 am on Tuesday night, is said to have taken injured Hasan Ali to GMCH for better treatment.

The DC has further ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The Additiol Deputy Commissioner in charge of law & order has been directed to conduct the probe and submit a report within 15 days.