Assam: We want justice, demands family of youth who died by suicide alleging police excesses and torture

GUWAHATI, Oct 26: The tears are simply refusing to dry. For Ajoy Dutta’s family, it’s now a fight for justice; justice for the good-natured and extremely well-mannered 20-year-old youth who could not bear the ignominy and insult of being picked-up by cops, thrashed, tortured and humiliated for almost no reason.

Young Ajoy took his own life in the wake of the police excesses he suffered but not before narrating everything, in a video which he streamed live on popular social networking site Facebook, about what he had undergone.

Ajoy’s family and fellow villagers are now distraught — and also angry and peeved. They want justice, fast-tracked.

“How can any policeman, who is duty bound to protect commoners from harm, be so cruel so as to subject an innocent youth to such humiliation? Those policemen who have killed my son should also be given the strictest of punishment,” his mother said.

Ajoy was picked somewhere near his village Kumargaon Doloumukh on the outskirts of Dergaon town on Vijaya Dashami. He was held inside a police van by a team of cops and allegedly slapped, thrashed and humiliated.

Unable to bear the insult, he committed suicide and his body was found hanging from a tree on the banks of Gelabil River.

Ajoy, in the self-shot video, claimed, “I had done nothing wrong. I only went to rescue a boy who was involved in a fight. The driver of the police van hit me in my face, the traffic cop hit me in my hand and wrists. I did no crime, I am a hardworking, poor boy. Everyone please share this video. I seek peace after my death.”

After the incident came to light, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed police to initiate an inquiry.

Assam DGP GP Singh has taken cognizance of this and has announced an SP-level enquiry into the matter.

Taking to X Singh informed, “Assam Police is deeply distraught at the news of suicide of a young fellow citizen Sri Ajay Dutta of Dergaon, District Golaghat. Honourable Chief Minister Assam has conveyed to me his grave concern about the incident. SP Golaghat has been directed to enquire into the matter and fix responsibility for the unfortunate incident and also take lawful action as required by law. While conveying our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, I wish to reassure people of Assam that our efforts would continue to make Assam Police a more sensitive and humane police unit.”

Golaghat SP Rajen Singh soon swung into action after DGP GP Singh’s directive and visited the residence of the deceased and spoke to the family members.

“Only when my brother gets justice will his soul rest in peace. And I would like to request the Chief Minister to probe the matter and punish those responsible for the death of my brother”, said Dutta’s sister.