HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 1: A 19-year-old All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) leader was killed and his cousin sister critically injured in a machete attack in Assam’s Nalbari district, while the prime accused later died during a police encounter after allegedly attempting to flee custody, officials said.
The incident occurred near Gangapur under Mukalmua Police Station on Sunday evening when Madhurjya Barman and his cousin Mridumudra Deka were returning home on a scooter after visiting Nalbari town.
Related Posts:
Police said the duo was allegedly attacked with a machete by the accused, identified as Roz Ali, also known as Ashik Ali.
Barman, who served as assistant secretary of the Paschim Nalbari Aanchalik Satra Santha, sustained severe head and neck injuries and was declared dead at Nalbari Medical College and Hospital.
Deka, a Class XI student, suffered grievous injuries and is undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
According to police, the attack was allegedly linked to a rejected marriage proposal.
Investigators said the accused had proposed to the girl several years ago, but she declined.
Police sources claimed he had earlier threatened her after the proposal was rejected.
Following the incident, police launched a manhunt and tracked the accused to a riverine island in Mukalmua.
Nalbari Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das said the accused was apprehended and later taken to recover the weapon used in the crime.
During the operation, he allegedly snatched a self-loading rifle from a police personnel and fired at the police team.
Security personnel retaliated, injuring him in the chest. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident sparked widespread outrage across the district.
Members of the All Assam Students’ Union staged protest demonstrations in Nalbari demanding justice for the deceased student leader.
You can expand the MLA portion like this:
Meanwhile, Nalbari MLA and former minister Jayanta Mallabaruah visited the injured girl at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and reviewed her condition.
Speaking to reporters, he said the victim had shown signs of improvement but remained in a critical condition due to excessive blood loss.
He informed that arrangements were being made to ensure the availability of blood and all necessary medical support for her treatment.
Describing the incident as deeply shocking and unprecedented in the district, Mallabaruah said it had created concern and fear among the people of Nalbari.
He praised Assam Police for their swift response in tracking down the accused and stated that the main accused was neutralised after allegedly attempting to attack police personnel during the operation.
The MLA said police were also investigating whether any other individuals had directly or indirectly aided the accused.
Referring to allegations surrounding the motive behind the attack, he asserted that the state government would continue to take a strict stand against such incidents and ensure that those involved are brought to justice.
He further assured that the Assam government would bear all medical expenses of the injured girl and extend every possible assistance to her family during this difficult period. Police said investigations are continuing to establish the full sequence of events and determine whether others played any role in the attack. (With inputs from PTI)
