New Delhi: A man in Jorhat town, who had been picked up by a joint team of the state police and the Army during an anti-insurgency operation on the night of June 14, has died in custody. While his family has refused to accept his body, claiming that he died of internal injuries due to custodial torture, the district magistrate has ordered an inquiry into the matter.According to news reports, the report is to be submitted in ten days.The joint operation in search of the banned ULFA-Independent armed group and NSCN (Isak-Muivah) militants was carried out by 244 Field Regiment based in the Charaideo area at the district’s Kakodonga Habi village under the jurisdiction of the Borhola police station.As per the family, a team of security forces came to the house of the 30-year-old man, Jayanta Bora, at midnight and asked the mother, Lila Bora, whether her son was engaged in any squabble.“They checked his mobile. Nothing was recovered from him. We requested not to take him away at that hour, but they refused,” the mother told News18.Also read: NHRC Seeks Report From 8 States on 15 Deaths Due to Police Excesses in LockdownDeputy commissioner Roshni Aparanji Korat told reporters that the Army team brought the man to the Borholla police station in their vehicle. “On reaching the police station, the Army team reported that the person was feeling uneasy. He was immediately rushed to Borholla Community Health Centre and after preliminary treatment, was referred to Jorhat medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead.”Bora’s mother has lodged a police complaint and has refused to accept the body demanding that the guilty be punished.The Army has not issued an official statement on the matter while the district administration has said that the inquiry would be conducted by officer Tapan Gohain and would be submitted within ten days.Meanwhile, on June 15, the local unit of All Assam Students Union submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister through the local DC demanding a “high-level inquiry” into the matter.
