Dhubri, Oct. 29: Police today lathicharged a group of women who were demonstrating outside Dhubri police station demanding the release of nine persons who were detained by police last night.
The police action not only dampened the festive spirit on Lakshmi Puja but also caused deep resentment among the residents of Dhubri.
Last night, Dhubri police picked up nine persons from Bishnu Hall, Sluice Gate, Korai Patty and Nulia Patty areas in connection with clashes that took place few days ago. Six of them were arrested and the rest were later released. The protesters claimed that all them were innocent and the police arrested them without any inquiry on the basis of a false FIR lodged by some persons.
Rita Bhadra, who lives in the Bishnu Hall area, sustained head injuries in the lathicharge. She alleged that they were outside the police station demanding release of those who were picked up by police when all of a sudden the police baton-charged them.
Archana Sikari from the Sluice Gate area was injured on her left hand and Chandra Mahato from Nulia Patty was hurt on the head. They alleged that police mercilessly beat up the protesters.
Citizens of Dhubri town strongly condemned the incident at a meeting held at Dhubri Kalibari auditorium. Nikhil Chandra Roy was the president of this meeting where it was decided that an FIR would be filed against the officer-in-charge of Dhubri police station.
The president of the BJP's Dhubri district unit, Bimal Oswal, also attended the meeting. He said the lathicharge was totally uncalled for and this would create further tension in the town.
"Women were there in front of Dhubri police station to protest against the biased action of police who are arresting persons without any prima facie evidence against them," Oswal said.
He urged the Dhubri district administration and police to be impartial in their action and said the police should first inquire about an incident and then frame charges.
The spokesperson for AIUDF's Dhubri district unit, Tazmul Haque, expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the town.
When contacted, Dhubri in-charge deputy commissioner Nurul Amin Laskar said the law and order situation in Dhubri town was returning to normal and no fresh incidents had taken place since yesterday. On the arrests, Laskar said the police had arrested those persons whose names were mentioned in the FIR after making inquiries.
Today is the fourth day in a row when shops of Dhubri town remained shut during the curfew relaxation period. It is being widely alleged that a section of people are forcing vegetable vendors not to come to Dhubri, compelling residents to go without vegetables for last four days.
