Guwahati, Feb 8: The Assam home and political department has directed the Assam DGP to take a slew of measures, including disbanding the anti-narcotic squad constituted by the Nagaon superintendent of police and immediate suspension of armed branch sub-inspector (AB SI) Pradeep Bania.
The department’s directive is based on the recommendations of the report submitted by additional chief secretary P.K Barthakur following an inquiry into the firing by police personnel of the anti-narcotic squad at Kacholukhowa Tiniali in Nagaon on the night of January 22, resulting in injury to Kirti Kamal Bora, a former AASU leader.
The DGP has been directed to transfer all members of the anti-narcotic squad, Nagaon, other than SP, Nagaon and ABSI Bania, from Nagaon district immediately.
The department has also directed the authorities to transfer the two cases on the basis of FIR filed by AB SI, Bania and Nilkamal Bora to the CID.
Further, the DGP has been asked to “conduct a departmental enquiry by a senior police officer regarding the role played by each and every police officer involved in the incident.”
“Moreover, the DGP, Assam has been asked to ascertain the safety and security of witnesses in the case. Police authorities have also been asked to take action for creating adequate awareness among the public against drug abuse and to ensure action as per law on all drug-related cases,” an official statement said.
The DGP has also been directed to communicate the action-taken report to the home and political department at the earliest.
Amid widespread outrage and pressure from locals, individuals and students’ groups, the state government had on January 23 constituted the one-man inquiry commission led by the additional chief secretary to probe the incident and submit a report within a week.
The former student leader, Bora was allegedly assaulted while going out to buy medicine for his mother and subsequently shot in the leg when he had reportedly questioned why the police were “beating” a man in the Kacholukhowa area in Nagaon district.