Assam: Blame game between police & locals over Nagaon youth’s death

GUWAHATI: Controversy has arisen over the death of a 23-year-old youth in Assam’s Nagaon district on Wednesday with the locals alleging that he died after being beaten by the police while playing cricket during curfew hours and the law-enforcers claiming that he was involved in a gambling racket and had jumped into a pond after spotting a police patrol.
The incident took place at Gereki under the jurisdiction of Rupahihat police station in the district.The youth has been identified as Soaib Akhter.
Carrying his body, an angry mob surrounded the police station and held a protest. They also threw stones in which several police vehicles were partially damaged. The police used batons and fired in the air to disperse the crowd.
SP (Nagaon) Anand Mishra, who reached the spot to control the situation, told the media that preliminary investigation shows that illegal betting was going on at Gereki in the name of playing cricket. “The youth, who tried to flee from the spot along with others, fell into a waterbody and died. However, a proper investigation has already been launched,” he said.
In the meanwhile, Pintu Pathak, OC ofRupahihat police station, told TOI, “We received information that illegal betting was going on in the name of playing cricket. We went to the spot. When the youths saw the police team approaching towards the field, they started fleeing. We saw around 30 motorcycles there. They gathered there violating the curfew.”
“Later, we got to know that a youth fell into a waterbody and died. Later, a mob surrounded the police station and pelted stones. Two police vehicles got damaged and few of our personnel sustained injuries,” he added.