GUWAHATI: Guwahati witnessed a grim turn of events on Wednesday, December 18 as Mridul Islam, a Congress worker and advocate, died following police action during a massive protest organised by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). The protest, part of the nationwide "Raj Bhavan Chalo" demonstration, saw hundreds of Congress members marching towards the Raj Bhavan at Kharguli, voicing their opposition to several contentious issues.
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Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd near the IOCL Water Intake Plant, resulting in chaos. Islam, who was exposed to the tear gas, was rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) but succumbed to his injuries. Bedabrata Borah, head of Congress’ media cell, confirmed the incident.
The demonstration, which began at around 11 am, highlighted several grievances, including:
- Opposition to the BJP-led government's refusal to discuss the Manipur crisis in Parliament.
- Allegations of corruption against the Adani Group.
- Criticism of the installation of smart meters in Assam.
- Opposition to the proposed "One Nation, One Election" Bill.
Protesters chanted slogans like "BJP go back", "Adani, down down", and "Remove smart meters", carrying flags and placards to voice their dissent.
The protest turned volatile when police stopped the marchers and used tear gas to control the crowd. The incident resulted in the detention of several top Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, APCC Chief Bhupen Borah, and senior leader Ripun Bora and Mira Borthakur. Protesters were also loaded onto buses and taken to undisclosed locations.
Bhupen Borah condemned the police action, labelling it "a blatant display of police dadagiri" and vowed that the Congress would “uproot the lotus from Assam and India.”
Addressing the contentious installation of smart meters, Borah accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of enabling the project for personal gain. "The widespread installation of smart meters in Assam, unmatched by any other state, is for commissions. This needs to be investigated," Borah alleged.
The protest also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged ties with industrialist Adani. Referring to allegations against Adani exposed by US agencies, Borah questioned the silence of Indian authorities, including SEBI and CID. "The American law enforcement agencies have exposed Adani, but Indian agencies have failed to act. Isn’t this surprising?" he remarked.
The protest was part of a larger All India Congress Committee campaign against the BJP-led Centre’s refusal to address critical issues during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. Despite the tragedy, APCC has vowed to continue its fight against the BJP, underscoring its determination to hold the government accountable.
As the state mourns the loss of Mridul Islam, the incident has reignited debates about the limits of police action during public demonstrations and the accountability of those in power.
Condolences will be offered after the post-mortem at the party office Raj Bhawan, Guwahati.