The protest site in Dibrugarh quickly turned into a battlefield, with heavy stone pelting directed at police and journalists. Two journalists and seven police officers, including an additional deputy superintendent, were injured from bricks, bottles, sticks, and other projectiles.
The protest site at Assam Medical College in campus, Alubari quickly turned into a battlefield. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, without any provocation or argument, a significant amount of stones, pieces of bricks, bottles, and sticks were thrown at the police present there. As a result, a chaotic environment emerged in the area. Due to these violent actions by the protesters, seven police officers, including an additional superintendent of police, were injured to varying degrees.
Additionally, two journalists from Dibrugarh city, who were present at the scene to gather news, were also injured to some extent. Today, during the administration’s efforts to close a clandestine path at the staff quarters of the fourth-class employees of Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, an unfortunate incident occurred, leading to a disruption in law and order. Residents of the Alubari area protested vigorously against the closure of the gate at the Alubari line of the Jalaan tea garden adjacent to the medical college, although the protest was peaceful at first.
This morning, protesters gathered in front of the entrance to the Alubari Line to strongly oppose the arbitrary decision of the Assam Medical College authorities. It is important to note that this area has long been associated with various anti-social activities, including alcohol, drugs, and gambling. Moreover, on July 9 of this year, a group of unruly youths brutally murdered a young man. The incident involved the killing of 24-year-old Kamal Sonar, who was attacked by a group of 12 young men near his home. Although the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this murder remains unclear, it later emerged that the incident was linked to alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
At that time, the incident caused widespread uproar across the state. A group of 12 young men confined Kamlu Sonar inside a shop and brutally beat him to death with punches, kicks, and sticks. As the group attacked Kamlu, who was providing for his small family by driving an e-rickshaw, they mercilessly struck him, resulting in severe injuries that even tore his stomach. Meanwhile, Kamlu’s wife, the mother of two small children, and his mother were sitting in front of the police station, crying out for justice.
Kamlu Sonar was arrested by the police after he mentioned the name of a brutal individual named Deepjyoti Rajbanshi in front of his wife while being identified as a murderer. Following this incident, Kamlu Sonar’s family was extremely upset, and it is reported that the entire situation was brought to the attention of the state’s Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Recognizing the seriousness and severity of the incident, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma instructed the police administration to take immediate corrective measures and all necessary actions.
Following this, the district administration and police decided to close the mentioned road today. As a result, some law and order issues arose. Initially, the protesters were actively chanting slogans, but later there was intense chaos among the police. Upon learning of the situation, the police eventually detained a few protesters and took them away in a police vehicle.
After that, the police blocked access to the Alubari entrance, which further escalated the tensions and aggression among the protesters. Due to the protesters throwing stones, pieces of bricks, and bottles, several individuals were injured, including the Additional Superintendent of Police of Dibrugarh, Nirmal Ghosh, and a video journalist named Rahul Mondal, along with journalist Jyotish Patir.
Due to the tense situation, the police had to use tear gas against the protesters. Additional Superintendent of Police Nirmal Ghosh stated in front of reporters that discussions had been ongoing for a long time about closing this road, as many anti-social activities had been taking place there. Today, in collaboration with the district administration, we decided to close it. The protest was peaceful at first.
After the incident, some individuals threw bottles, stones, and bricks, resulting in injuries to me and around 6 or 7 police officers and journalists. Additional Superintendent of Police Ghosh reported that my mobile phone was also broken during the attack. Meanwhile, the district administration has declared this protest completely illegal. It has also been reported that four protesters have been detained and are being questioned at the Borborari police station. On the other hand, there is still a tense atmosphere surrounding the closure of the gate at Alobari line.
