Assam DGP orders probe into youth's death over allegations of police torture

Assam DGP GP Singh has ordered a probe into the suicide of a youth in Assam's Jorhat district after the victim's family alleged that he took the extreme step after being unable to bear police torture.

Taking to social media, the Assam DGP said that a probe has been ordered into the death of Dipankar Gogoi of Titabor in Jorhat district. GP Singh said that the enquiry would be conducted by the IGP Eastern Range into the matter.

"Reference suicidal death of Dipankar Gogoi of Titabor Jorhat a day after questioning relating to recent grenade blast at Jorhat - An enquiry has been ordered by Assam Police HQ to be conducted by IGP Eastern Range into the incident, including the procedural part, analysing the CCTV footage of police station, contents of report of medical examination at the time of release after questioning etc. Assam Police remains committed to follow procedures as laid down in law while taking action against criminal and terrorist activities," said GP Singh on social media. 

 

Reference suicidal death of Dipankar Gogoi@Tiseng of Titabor Jorhat a day after questioning relating to recent grenade blast at Jorhat - An enquiry has been ordered by @assampolice Hq to be conducted by IGP Eastern Range into the incident, including the procedural part, analysing…

— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) December 26, 2023

 

The youth identified as Dipankar Gogoi, a resident of Birinasayek village, took the extreme step and died by suicide. Family members are alleging that he took the extreme step after he could not bear the police torture that he had to undergo recently. 

Dipankar was questioned reportedly over suspicions of being a ULFA-Independent linkman, and was being interrogated in connection with the grenade blast incident outside the Lichubari army base that happened on December 14. 

Dipankar had been called to the police station for four days where he has been allegedly tortured both mentally and physically. His body was found hanging from a tree behind his house. 

Following his death, the deceased's family members are alleging that Dipankar took the extreme step after being unable to bear the police torture.

"Continuously, he was taken into custody for days by the police. On the day of the blast, he was at home cooking dinner. They used to come and pick up at different times. They used to pick up each days and then let him go at the end of each day. He told that us that he is telling the truth but still they are suspecting him and only targeting him. He cried and told us that he would hang himself. I told him that he did not worry if he is innocent. But due to mental pressure, he is now dead," said the victim's father. 

Noteworthy is that as per reports, Dipankar had joined the ULFA-I five years ago. However, he was brought back to the mainstream by the Assam Rifles in Arunachal Pradesh.