Police in Assam's Nagaon district on Monday said Ashiqul Islam, an accused in the burning of Batadraba police station on May 21, died after being hit by a police vehicle while he allegedly tried to flee from custody.
They claimed that Ashiqul tried to flee from a police vehicle while he was being brought back from a search operation for weapons. "He was arrested on Friday and admitted during questioning that there were some arms hidden in his home. So he was taken there to recover the arms and while coming back, he jumped from a vehilce. He was hit by another vehicle and he was declared dead in hospital," a police in Nagaon in central Assam, said.
Police said Islam was arrested as he was found inciting the mob to torch the Batadraba police station on May 22. A 7.2 pistol and ammunition was recovered during the operation, police said.
Angry residents had set fire on Batadraba police station after Safikul Islam, a 39-year-old local fish-seller from the Salonabori village died in police custody. Ashiqul and 10 others, including family members of Safikul were arrested in connection with the case.
Administration of Nagaon district on May 22 had demolished houses of those allegedly involved in the incident alleging that they were occupying in government land and had forged documents. They were also booked under Unlawful (Activities Prevention) Act for alleged terror links.
In December last year, another accused had similarly died, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the lynching of a student leader in Jorhat district.
Since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government came to power in May last year, police was asked to adopt "zero tolerance" to deal with crimes and criminals. Several accused have been allegedly killed by police after they tried to flee from police custody. Opposition parties, however, said through such alleged killings, the BJP-led government was promoting police raj in the state.
Published 30 May 2022, 11:02 IST