GUWAHATI: Three persons have been arrested in Assam’s Cachar district in connection with the breaking of the Barak river embankment, which resulted in a catastrophic flood in Silchar.
Mithu Hussain Laskar, Kabul Khan and Ripon Khan have been recognised as the arrested persons who have been blamed for the misdeed.
Laskar was apprehended on July 2, while Khan was nabbed on July 1. Both remain in custody till the filing of this report. Ripon Khan was arrested on July 4.
Ramandeep Kaur, Superintendent of Police in Cachar, confirmed their arrests to G Plus. She stated that the police are further investigating the issue.
On May 24 itself, the Water Resources Department filed a police complaint against unknown persons for breaking through the embankment at Bethukandi, some 3 kilometres from the town centre, to allow rainwater from a marsh to pour into the Barak river.
Many areas of Cachar district have been badly impacted and the Silchar town remains submerged.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier stated that the flood was a man-made calamity and that those responsible will face harsh punishment.