Tinsukia: In a major development, a police complaint was lodged on Thursday night against fifteen policemen, including former Sadiya Police District Superintendent Mrinal Deka and former Additional Superintendent of Tinsukia Police Bibhash Das, in connection with the alleged fake encounter of three local youths in December last year.
The complaint comes as the Supreme Court is hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) regarding the alleged fake encounter by Assam Police, following a PIL that the Gauhati High Court disposed.
Confirming the development, Dholla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Devashish Dekari said a case has been registered, but he refused to disclose the case number or the sections under which the case has been filed.
Manuj Boragohain, one of the victims, now wheelchair-bound since the encounter, expressed his devastation. “My life has been crippled, and my family destroyed because of the fake encounter,” he said. “Today, I cannot stand on my feet. I have been left with permanent disabilities.” Boragohain, a father of a Class 5 student, added, “I demand the police officers involved be punished. My father is seriously ill, and I can’t provide for my family. The government must compensate me.”
Boragohain, who claimed to be a driver by profession, used to work on the Tinsukia-Sadiya route before the incident.
In the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Dholla Police Station by three persons, a copy accessed by this correspondent, it is alleged that on December 23, 2023, the group went to a picnic spot in Arunachal Pradesh, traveling in a Maruti 800 car owned by Biswanath Boragohain. “At around 11 am, we met at a nearby petrol pump and started our journey to the picnic spot, 30 km away. We arrived at around 2:30 pm and joined others at the riverside picnic, many of whom were former colleagues and bus drivers. We drank alcohol and enjoyed the afternoon,” the FIR stated.
The other two complainants, Dipjyoti Neog (29) and Biswanath Boragohain (34), are residents of Chapakhowa in Tinsukia district’s Sadiya subdivision.
According to the FIR, Biswanath’s wife, Munmi, repeatedly called him, which he ignored due to intoxication. An argument ensued during one of the calls he answered. “Around 6 pm, we decided to head home. As we were drunk, we drove slowly, stopping occasionally. Eventually, we ran low on fuel and parked the car to sleep inside,” the FIR added.
While the trio slept in the car, Assam Rifles personnel allegedly apprehended them around 9 pm and took them to their camp for interrogation. The personnel reportedly questioned them about links to banned organizations like ULFA (I), which they denied. The complainants allege the officers showed them photos on their phones, asking if they recognized anyone, which they again denied.
The FIR further claims that at around midnight, Assam Police, led by SP Mrinal Deka, arrived at the Assam Rifles camp. The group recognized Deka from television and newspapers. Along with Additional SP Bibhash Das, OC Dholla PS Devashish Dekari, Sadiya PS OC Si-im Sing Timung, and other officers, the police allegedly began drinking with the Assam Rifles officers. After some time, the complainants were taken in Assam Police vehicles, traveling through the Hahkhati Forest Reserve instead of the highway. Dipjyoti and Manuj were in one vehicle, while Biswanath was in another. The convoy reportedly consisted of six police vehicles and about 15 personnel.
According to the FIR, when the convoy reached the Hahkhati Forest Reserve at around 3 am on December 24, 2023, the three were forced out of the vehicles and made to lie face down. SP Mrinal Deka allegedly shot them one by one at close range in the legs. Dipjyoti was shot first, followed by Manuj, then Biswanath.
The trio denied accusations that Dipjyoti attempted to snatch a pistol from OC Dholla PS or tried to flee. “None of us tried to escape. It was practically impossible with 15 heavily armed personnel surrounding us,” the complaint read.
When contacted, Mrinal Deka, the then-SP of Sadiya and an accused in the case, abruptly disconnected the call. Messages sent via WhatsApp went unanswered. Former Additional SP of Tinsukia, Bibhash Das, declined to comment.
On September 10, legal news platform Bar and Bench tweeted a courtroom exchange, during which Justice Bhuyan remarked, “It is not good for the rule of law that so many accused are losing their lives like this.”
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