GUWAHATI, Feb 26 � The family of Anjan Baruah, a resident of Tengani Dighali Majgaon under Barpathar Police Station in Golaghat district has alleged that Anjan was compelled to end his life on February 25 night following �continued physical and mental torture� by the police after his arrest in a �fabricated� case.
In a letter to the Subdivisional Police Officer, Dhansiri, the deceased�s father Himendra Baruah stated that the police pressurized Anjan � arrested a few months back -- into making public statements before the electronic media linking some organisations with Maoists. The police also tried to brand him as a Maoist on false charges, with the Barpathar Police Station in-charge giving bites before the media to that effect, he said.
Akhil Gogoi, president of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, told The Assam Tribune that the young man was a victim of police brutality who was constantly subjected to physical and mental pressure to make a confessional statement to suit the interest of the police. �This he did not do and had to pay with his life ultimately. He was pressurized into committing suicide,� Gogoi said.
Meanwhile, villagers of Tengani today gheraoed the police when it came to the residence of the deceased for getting his postmortem done. �Later, the villagers refused to take back Anjan�s body, saying that he was killed by the government machinery and so it has to take the responsibility of his body as well,� Gogoi said.
