AASU stages road blockade alleging police high-handedness

FIR lodged against SDPO Bhergaon

A Correspondent

TANGLA, May 9: The high handedness of a section of IPS officers is not unheard of. The Tangla unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) took to the streets protesting against the assault on a student leader by Bhergaon SDPO Barun Purkayastha and his guards. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for three hours on the Mangaldai-Bhutiachang,Tangla-Bhergaon and Tangla-Deor path following the massive protest at Tangla Charali on Wednesday. The protest was against Bhergaon SDPO Barun 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 who had allegedly beaten up members of student organizations on several occasions in Bhergaon subdivision 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 butt stroked on the back of his head by one of the guards of the officer following which he was rushed to Tangla CHC by the OC Tangla. The incident spread like wildfire on Wednesday morning and drew criticism from people, following which the Udalguri AASU and Tangla AASU headed by assistant general secretary of AASU, Jayanta Kr. Bhattacharjya staged the protest.

 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 student leaders also demanded that the PWD (IB) occupied by the Bhergaon SDPO should 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 to investigate the matter.

 The Tangla AASU also lodged FIR against the bureaucrat and his guards. The IPS officer could not be reached for comments. Meanwhile, talking to The Sentinel, Udalguri SP Rajveer Singh informed that the student leader Rinku Deka along with one of his accomplices 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 the spot following which verbal altercation took place and one of his guards had hit the student leader.