Huge Protest In Assam After Student Shot By Cops, Probe Ordered

A massive protest was staged by students in Assam's Nagaon today against the police after cops shot a former student leader on suspicion of being a drug peddler, resulting in a probe ordered by the state government. Slamming the state government, the Congress said that 'police raj' continues in the state.

The incident took place on Saturday night when he went out to buy medicine for his mother.

The protest saw students blocking a highway and raising slogans against Assam police and Nagaon SP Anand Mishra for "brutality" against the former student leader.

The youth has been identified as Kirtti Kamal Bora of the Kachalukhua area in the Nagaon district who alleges he was beaten up by the police near his home. He has been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College for treatment with a bullet wound and fracture in the leg.

He said he was on his way home when he saw a few policemen beating someone; when he inquired what was going on, the policemen allegedly verbally abused him.

On protesting the police's behaviour, he alleged that he was dragged off from his bike and was assaulted. He was then shot on his leg.

"After I was shot, one of the policemen said that they should have shot me on my chest and killed me," he claimed.

However, Nagaon police officer, Anand Mishra claimed that Mr Bora was suspected to be involved in illegal drug trade and he was shot because he had assaulted a police officer. "We had information about drug peddlers being there, so our cops went there. There was fight. The youth first attacked our cops so they retaliated. We will probe this matter," he said.

"We have taken the case into cognizance. There have been protests as well... we have ordered a probe. The additional chief secretary will do it," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Attacking the state government,  Debabrata Saikia, Leader of Opposition, said, "Our Chief Minister has openly said - even in the assembly - that it should not be a pattern. Here you see someone has gone it to buy medicine and is shit at and police were alleging that he was peddling drugs and all." 

Recently, Nagaon Police made headlines for their massive operation against drugs in the district, resulting in deaths and injuries.

"We want justice for Kirtti Kamal Bora. How can police shoot him on his leg without any reason? We won't tolerate such behaviour of policemen," said a student.

The students said that the police should immediately arrest the personnel involved in the incident of "shooting him without a cause".

The students also said that if Kirtti was wrong, he could have been arrested by the police as he was alone while there were at least nine policemen on the spot.

"Why did they not catch him by physical force? He was outnumbered as compared to the police," a protestor said.

The victim's mother also participated in the protest. "My son was innocent. He has not done anything wrong, then why did policemen shoot him. I want justice for my son," she cried.

"This boy never drinks. He is not a drug addict. He is a very good youth and was a former general secretary of the college here. He went out to fetch medicine for his ailing mother and they shot him," said Nilo Kamal Bora, the victim's relative.

The incident comes at a time when there is an ongoing case at the Gauhati High Court over alleged fake encounters by Assam police and also a similar petition is being investigated by the National Human Rights Commission. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been defending the police all along.