GUWAHATI: A local leader of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Madhurjya Barman, was killed while his cousin, Mridu Mudra Deka, sustained critical injuries following an attack in Assam’s Nalbari district on Sunday evening, police said on June 1.
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The incident took place at Gangapur village near Jagara when the two were returning home from Nalbari town after purchasing books. According to police, Madhurjya Barman suffered severe injuries to his head and neck during the attack. He was rushed to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Mridu Mudra Deka, a resident of Gangapur, was critically injured in the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Police identified the accused as Asif Khan alias Roz Ali. According to Nalbari police, the accused was injured during a police operation after he allegedly attempted to escape custody and attack police personnel during a manhunt. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Nalbari Senior Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das said the accused allegedly snatched a weapon from police personnel and opened fire while trying to flee. Police retaliated, during which the accused sustained a bullet injury to his chest.
The incident triggered protests in several parts of the district, with student organisations demanding immediate action and arrests in the case.
Nalbari MLA Jayanta Mallabaruah visited GMCH and met the injured victim and her guardian. Speaking to reporters, he termed the incident as a case of “love jihad” and said such incidents had not occurred in Nalbari earlier. He added that police were treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
The MLA also informed that the body of deceased AASU leader Madhurjya Barman had been handed over to the family after post-mortem examination.