Guwahati, Dec 18: A Congress worker, Mridul Islam, tragically lost his life during the Raj Bhawan Chalo protest organized by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in Guwahati on Wednesday. The protest aimed to raise concerns about several national and regional issues, including alleged corruption and government policies.
Mridul Islam, an advocate at the Gauhati High Court and a resident of Suntoli, Samaria (Boko), sustained severe injuries after the city police used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. He was rushed to Nemcare Hospital, but the hospital reportedly refused to admit him. Tragically, he passed away en route to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Several other congress leaders and journalists were also injured in the incident.
Over 1,000 Congress workers participated in the march to Raj Bhawan as part of a nationwide protest. The demonstrators raised slogans like “BJP Go Back,” “Adani, Down Down,” and “Remove Smart Meters,” opposing several contentious issues, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B.R. Ambedkar, the ongoing crisis in Manipur, alleged inaction regarding the Adani controversy, the demand for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the installation of smart meters across Assam and the proposed “One Nation, One Election” bill.
The protest began around 11:30 AM, with participants carrying placards, flags, and microphones. It was led by prominent Congress leaders, including Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, and former MP Ripun Bora.
At around 12:20 PM, protesters breached police barricades near the IOCL Water Intake Plant, prompting police to fire tear gas shells to disperse them. Several top Congress leaders, including Bhupen Kumar Borah, Debabrata Saikia, and Ripun Bora, were detained along with other demonstrators. Many protesters were forcibly taken to police custody in buses.
APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah condemned the police’s actions, labelling them as a “blatant display of dadagiri.” He reaffirmed Congress’s resolve to fight the BJP, stating, “We will uproot the lotus from Assam and India.”
Borah also alleged corruption in the state government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of profiteering from installing smart meters. “No other state has installed smart meters at this scale. This is for commission,” Borah claimed.
Further, Borah criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged association with industrialist Gautam Adani, who faces accusations from U.S. law enforcement agencies. “The American law enforcement agencies have exposed Adani, but Indian agencies like SEBI and CID have found no fault. Isn’t that surprising?” he questioned.
The APCC declared Mridul Islam as the first martyr in their fight against corruption. His mortal remains were brought to Rajiv Bhawan, where Congress leaders and workers paid their last respects. APCC general secretary Bipul Gogoi has filed an FIR at Latasil Police Station, calling for an independent and thorough investigation into Islam’s death during the protest.
