GUWAHATI:
Assam Human Right Commission (AHRC) on January 11 asked the deputy commissioner of Barpeta district to furnish a report on the death of Abdul Alim, who was killed in police firing during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, in Barpeta district.
Abdul Alim, who hails from Baghmara in the Bajali sub-division in Barpeta district, was killed when the police fired at anti-CAA protestors at Lalunggaon in Guwahati on December 12, 2019. His death had pushed the family into a future of uncertainty as he was the sole earning member.
Based on a petition filed by the Coordination committee against CAA, the AHRC on September 15, 2020, asked the DC of Barpeta to submit an enquiry report on the death of Alim within one month.
The rights body also asked the DCs of Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural, and Dibrugarh districts to submit reports on the death of three other anti-CAA protestors Sam Stafford, Dipanjal Das and Iswar Nayak, who were killed in police firing during anti-CAA protest.
In the order, the AHRC had said that failure to complete the enquiries, the deputy commissioners of the concerned would have to pay between Rs 2-Rs 3 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Following this order, the DCs of Kamrup (Metro) and Dibrugarh districts have submitted their reports and said that the victims were involved in anti-CAA protests and the police had resorted to the actions to protect their lives.
However, two years have passed the Barpeta DC has failed to submit any report to the AHRC.
During a hearing of the case, the AHRC gave an ultimatum of one month to the Barpeta DC to furnish the probe report on the situation leading to Abdul Alim’s death or to face the penalty.
“The DCs of Barpeta district has not submitted his enquiry report till now even though two years have elapsed. He is, therefore, asked to complete the enquiry and submit the report within one month. Once a such report has been received, the case will be considered for the final report,” the AHRC said in its order.
The rights body will hear the case on February 8.