Assam police condemned for human right violation

At a time when modernization of police force and changes in police behavior towards common people have been discussed all over the world; Assam police officers and constables have been seen following old barbarous approach of treating accused persons, putting a deaf ear to human rights. Such an incident has come to light at Panbari police out post, Under Kalaigaon police station in the district of Darrang.

According to an application addressed to the president Kalaigaon Press Club, people of the villages Pub Padokhat, Rajapukhuri alleged that Kalicharan Das, in-charge of Panbari police out post, has meted out barbaric torture to Hamidur Rahman ,son of Habibur Rahman of the village Pub Padokhat on the night of October 28.Leading woman of the area and former AP member Mrs.Hazara Begum told this scribe that a 25 years old widow wife of late Abdul Mannan ( name not mentioned here) of the village Laoduar had been forced to maintain physical relation by one Mohammad Ali of the same village for several months. The matter had come to light only when the widow was seven months pregnant. According to the advice of the villagers the widow filed an FIR at Panbari police out post against the culprit Mohamad Ali. But instead of arresting the culprit ,Kalicharan Das in-charge of the police out post let him go after collecting an amount of Rs,15000.The widow was paid an amount of Rs.200 only. The villagers headed by Hamidur Rahman made strong protest against the injustice and a news item was published in a leading Assamese daily on October 23. Finding no way the police officer paid an amount of Rs.8000 to the widow but decided to punish Hamidur Rahman who took initiative in bringing justice to the widow.

On the night of October 28,Hamidur Rahman was arrested .A 200 strong villagers gathered in front of the Panbari police out post demanding immediate release of Rahman. Police officer Das persuaded the people to leave the place saying that he would be let go next morning. But officer in-charge Kalicharan Das had other ideas in mind. He tortured Rahman barbarously for the whole night ( legs were tied to the ceiling in head down position ) He was forced to sign in several blank papers. On the morning of October 29 he was mercilessly beaten up again in front of the villagers. His simple fault was that he tried to bring justice to the widow. In critical condition he was remanded to judicial custody at Mangaldai (case no. 097/09 under section 457/380 IPC).

Hamidur Rahman is now in Mangaldai jail in critical condition. He hardly can walk and breathe. People of Rajapukhuri, Padokhat Laoduar have strongly condemned the police treatment meted out to an innocent person .In a memorandum, they demand district administration of Darrang to punish the guilty officer immediately. According to Hazara Begum, they will approach state Human Right Commission against the police atrocity and human right violation.