GUWAHATI:
Following the directions of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam government on August 12 suspended Darrang superintendent of police (SP) Rajmohan Ray, additional SP Rupam Phukan, and officer-in-charge (OC) of Dhula Police Station Utpal Bora over allegations that the police top brass mishandled the June 11 case of unnatural death of a 13-year-old girl in Dhula.
Sarma visited the family on August 12, and ordered for suspension of the three police officials.
“Visited the house of a 13-year-old girl, who died under mysterious circumstances at Praja Pathar village in Dhekiajuli. Ordered an SIT probe into the matter, and suspension of Darrang SP, Addl SP, and OC of Dhula PS for their alleged negligence in investigating the case,” Sarma said in a tweet.
Accompanied by irrigation minister Ashok Singhal, MP Palalab Lochan Das And director general of police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, the chief minister interacted with the relatives of the deceased and inquired about the allegations they had labelled against the Darrang police administration.
Meanwhile, Prasanta Saikia has been posted as the new SP of Darrang district, while additional SP (Security and Intelligence) Nirupam Hazarika has been posted as additional SP of the district with immediate effect.
It may be reminded that Dhula OC, Bora, was already arrested on charges of detaining a doctor and a teacher on false charges and then demanding Rs 5 lakh from each of them as part of a ‘compromise deal’ to dismiss the cases.
Notably, a 13-year-old girl hailing from Prajapathar village under Dhekiajuli PS in Sonitpur district, who was engaged as domestic help at the residence of one Krishna Kamal Barua of Dhola area in Darrang district, was found dead under mysterious condition on June 11.
Even as the accused Krishna Kamal Barua and Nirju Nath Barua were arrested by the police in connection with the case, they were forwarded to judicial custody on the same day.
It has been alleged that the police displayed extreme dereliction of duty in collecting of photographic and video graphic evidence of the incident.
It has been further alleged that the Dhula Police Station officer-in-charge had put pressure on the family members of the deceased not to file a written complaint about the unnatural death.
Considering the gravity of the above allegations, the chief minister asked the DGP to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Two of the three members of the SIT shall be females, as per the chief minister’s order.
The chief minister also issued instructions to concerned officials to get a house constructed for the family of the deceased under a government scheme. He also ordered the Sonitpur deputy commissioner to take necessary measures for the inclusion of the family of the deceased under the Orunodoi scheme.