In a shocking incident in Assam, an enraged mob burnt down a police station after a man allegedly died in police custody. The incident happened in Batadrava in Nagaon district in Assam on Saturday, when a mob of around 2,000 people attacked the Batadrava police station, assaulted cops, and burnt the police station down.
The incident was triggered by the death of Safiqul Islam, a fish trader, while he was in police custody in the police station. After learning about his death, people from his community gathered around the police station and attacked it. The mob assaulted policemen on duty at that time, and after that set the police station on fire.
Assam | Mob set Batadrava Police Station on fire in Nagaon district after man allegedly died in police custody
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2022
We’re investigating the allegations. 3 have been detained from among persons who attacked police station. 2 police personnel have been injured in attack: SP Leena Doley pic.twitter.com/7kwCCYwB0s
The family of Safiqul Islam has alleged that he was beaten to death by the police because he had refused to pay them bribe that the police officials had demanded from him. They alleged that the cops had demanded Rs 10,000, a duck and a chicken from his family in exchange of his release from custody.
Videos of the incident show a large number of people, including women attacking the police station and setting it on fire.
This is how they, two women burned the Batadrava Police station of Nowgaon in Assam, while the Muzlim male mob was attacking the on duty Police personals.@assampolice should stop shooting in leg, while doing encounter, aim straight for couriering to Hoors.
— Oxomiya Jiyori ?? (@SouleFacts) May 21, 2022
CC @ShefVaidya pic.twitter.com/lajIJvk6Lo
Even our policemen and police stations are not safe in Miya dominated areas of Assam, then imagine how our future will remain safe?
— Voice of Assam (@VoiceOfAxom) May 21, 2022
Illegal B’deshis who settled in Assam burnt down Bataduwa Police Station of Nagaon District, Assam. They even brutally trashed many policemen. pic.twitter.com/C72g8etmaX
Soon after the attack, additional forces were sent to Batadrava to control the situation. Nagaon SP Leena Doley and other senior officials of Nagaon Police also arrived. Three persons who were part of the mob has been arrested so far by the police. Two policemen were injured in the attack.
“We have arrested three persons who were involved in the violence. This is absolutely unacceptable. Whatever may be the provocation, no one can take up law into their hands. We will look into every aspect of the incident and take action,” SP Leena Doley said.
Reportedly, Safiqul Islam, a residence of Salnabari under Dhing police station, was arrested by Batadrava Police on Friday evening when he was on his way to sell fish. He allegedly died in police custody and his family found his body a hospital in Nagaon today.
However, the police have denied that he died due to torture by police. SP Leena DOley said that Safiqul was brought by police in an inebriated condition from Bhumuraguri, after some people had informed the police about him. She said that his family members were informed about his detention, and after that they had gone to the police station in the morning, and even provided him food. However, his condition deteriorated while in detention, following which he was sent to the local PHC and from there he was referred to Nagaon civil hospital. However, he was declared brought dead at the civil hospital.
The SP further said that they are investigating the allegations made by Safiqul’s family.
