Guwahati, July 9: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of an alleged custodial torture case at Bordumsa Police Station in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, directing the Tinsukia District Commissioner to conduct an inquiry and submit a report by September 25, 2025.
The action comes after a petition filed by Injamul Haque from Hajo alleged that Sanjeev Moran, a resident of Mohong village, was brutally assaulted in police custody on May 3, following a verbal altercation with police officers during Panchayat election voting. Moran was reportedly summoned to the police station the next day, where he was subjected to severe physical assault, including the application of hot chilli paste on sensitive body parts — a practice widely condemned as torture under both Indian and international law.
The incident has triggered massive public protests in Mohong, forcing authorities to take immediate disciplinary action. Six police personnel, including the officer-in-charge, have been suspended or transferred. Those named include Sub-Inspectors Rajib Deka and Jayanta Kalita, Constables Bishal Boro, Rajib Deka, and Bhaiti Deka, and OC Biswajit Saharia, who has been transferred and closed to reserve lines.
In the petition submitted to the AHRC, the complainant urged the commission to go beyond routine suspension and initiate a formal magisterial inquiry, provide medical and psychological support to the victim, and ensure legal aid and protection from further threats. The petition also called for criminal prosecution of the accused officers and proposed systemic reforms, including mandatory human rights training, regular sensitization workshops, and independent oversight mechanisms for police conduct.
The AHRC’s intervention is seen as a critical step toward upholding Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, and ensures that custodial abuse does not go unchecked. The case has become a flashpoint for broader concerns about police brutality, triggering a wider conversation about accountability and reform within Assam’s law enforcement system.
