GUWAHATI: An angry mob ransacked and set fire to the Batadraba Police Station in Nagaon district of Assam on Saturday, May 20, over the alleged custodial death of a local man. Three persons involved in the attack on the police station have so far been arrested, while two policemen were injured in the incident.
The family of Safiqul Islam, a resident of Salnabadi village in Dhing, say he was beaten to death as the wife failed to arrange Rs 10,000 police demanded of her.
As news of the death spread, an angry mob gathered outside the station, attacked police officers and set the station on fire.
Three persons have so far been arrested in connection with the attack on the police station. Nagaon Superintendent of Police Leena Doley has promised a thorough investigation into allegations levelled against police officers of the Batadraba police station, and assured action against any officer found at fault.
Safiqul was on his way to Sivasagar on a business trip when he was picked up by Batadraba Police at around 10 PM on Friday, May 20, his family said. The Officer in Charge of Batadraba Police station called up his wife asked her to come in the morning with a duck as bribe. When she showed up with the bird, they demanded an additional Rs 10,000, Islam’s relatives told reporters.
Later, when the family brought the money to the Police Station, the Police informed them that Safiqul had been taken to a hospital. The family told the media that they found his body in the Nagaon morgue and from there they carried it back to the Police Station and started the protest.
