Death of Ajit Mahanta in Army custody resulted in flaring up of the situation at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district. Violent incidents following the custody death led to the death of nine persons in police firing.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the Army has given Rs 1, 05,000 as compensation to the family of Ajit Mahanta. Lt Gen Arvind Sharma, GOC, Eastern Command, visited Mahanta’s house in Kakopathar-Dirak area and handed over the compensation to his family. Lt Gen Arvind Sharma announced that the Army will adopt Mahanta’s sons, construct his house and employ his wife. He assured that the Army will conduct an enquiry and vowed to punish the guilty.

Moreover, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced a judicial probe into the police firing. Mr. Gogoi, apart from giving five lakhs as compensation to the Mahanta family, also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs three lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the incident. He informed that the State Government would institute a probe by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into the events leading to police firing.

The Chief Minister revealed that he has already taken up the matter of death of Ajit Mahanta in Army custody and requested the Defence Minister to take appropriate action against those found responsible and to provide financial and other assistance to the family of the deceased. “The Defence Minister agreed to pay compensation to the next of kin of Ajit Mahanta and both the children of Mahanta would be adopted by the Army. The Army will also provide a job to the wife of Mahanta. The Defence Minister assured that court martial proceedings would be initiated and appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty,” informed Mr. Gogoi

Giving details of the administrative measures taken after the incident, Tarun Gogoi said that Additional Chief Secretary C. K. Das has been directed to rush to the area and to ensure proper and free medical treatment to all those injured in the incident. He said that Minister of State for Forests Pradyut Bordoloi was camping in Tinsukia, while, Minister of State for Home, Rockybul Hussain and the Minister of State for Planning and Development Himanta Biswa Sarma have also been directed to rush to Tinsukia to bring the situation under control. The Chief Minister has also directed the Labour Minister, Rameswar Dhanowar to camp there. Senior police officials including the Director General of Police are also camping in Tinsukia, he added. The Chief Minister has appealed to all sections of people of the State to maintain peace and not to be misled by the propaganda of the vested interest circles and political parties.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had also expressed her regret and anguishes at the sad demise of Ajit Mahanta and the death of nine persons in police firing and assured that the guilty would be punished and compensation would be paid to the next of kin of the deceased, during her visit to the State.

Ajit Mahanta was picked up by the Army from his residence recently on charges of having links with outlawed ULFA.Later his family was informed about his death. Hearing the news, people in thousands blocked National Highway 52. According to the villagers, Ajit was an innocent man and had no  adverse police record and had been tortured and killed by the army. The villagers are demanding punishment of the guilty army personnel.

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