The high-handedness of a section of IPS officers is not unheard of. The Tangla unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) took to streets protesting the assault on a student leader allegedly by IPS officer Barun Purkayastha, Bhergaon SDPO and his guards.
The vehicular traffic was heavily disrupted for three long hours on Mangaldai-Bhutiachang, Tangla-Bhergaon and Tangla-Deor Path following the massive protest at Tangla Charali in Udalguri on Wednesday.
The blockade was observed in protest against Bhergaon SDPO Purkayastha and his guards, who allegedly assaulted the secretary of Tangla AASU unit on Tuesday night.
Hundreds of activists and college students burnt tyres and shouted slogans demanding disciplinary action and immediate transfer of the IPS officer, for his alleged involvement in beating up of activists of student organizations on several occasions in Bhergaon Sub-division in the recent past.
Reportedly trouble started at Lichu-Bagan area when the IPS officer and his guards allegedly assaulted the Secretary of Tangla AASU unit, Rinku Deka. The student leader was allegedly hit on the back of his head by one of the guards of the officer following which he was rushed to Tangla CHC by the Officer-in-charge of Tangla Police Station.
The incident, which spread like wildfire on Wednesday morning, drew criticism from people of various walks of life following which the Udalguri AASU, Tangla AASU led by Assistant General Secretary of AASU, Jayanta Kr Bhattacharjya, staged the protest programme.
Addressing the protesters, Udalguri AASU Secretary Saiful Haque and Jayanta Bhattacharjya strongly condemned the alleged assault and demanded strict disciplinary action and immediate transfer of the IPS officer.
The students’ leaders also demanded that the PWD IB occupied by the Bhergaon SDPO be vacated at the earliest.
DSP (HQ) Moidul Islam, SDO (C) Dithakananda Hazarika and Harisinga Circle Officer Rittutam Bora termed it as an unfortunate incident and assured of investigating into the matter.
The Tangla AASU also filed an FIR against the IPS officer and his guards.
However, the IPS officer couldnt be reached for comments. ‘
Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, Udalguri SP Rajveer Singh informed that the students’ leader, Rinku Deka along with one of his associates had allegedly chased a dried betel nut-laden truck bearing registration number UP 63 T7621 demanding extortion money following which the truck met with an accident at Mangaldai-Bhutiachang road in Lichubagan area under Tangla PS on Tuesday midnight.
SDPO Purkayastha and his guards rushed to the spot following which verbal altercation took place and one of his guards had hit the student leader.