Guwahati, Nov 16: A day after a food delivery agent was assaulted by a police official in the heart of the city, students of Cotton University on Saturday demanded a public apology from the officer involved in the alleged assault saying that they would go for vigorous movement if the officer does not make a public apology within 48 hours.
The incident occurred on Friday, and the victim food delivery agency, Gyandeep Hazarika, who is also a student of Cotton University, reportedly faced mistreatment at the hands of Bhargav Borbora, the Officer-in-Charge of the Panbazar Police Station.
Just after the incident, Bhargav Borbora was suspended and transferred to the “Ordinary Reserve” pending a formal inquiry.
The assault on Gyandeep Hazarika by Inspector Bhargav Borbora sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests by students and food delivery workers on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday evening near Jail Road traffic point in Fancy Bazaar, when the delivery agent reportedly broke a traffic signal and entered a no-entry zone while rushing to complete a delivery.
The confrontation escalated after Hazarika attempted to evade the police. A viral video, recorded by bystanders, shows Inspector Borbora aggressively handling Hazarika, grabbing him by the neck, and repeatedly assaulting him, while angrily threatening, “Where do you think you are going?” and “I will kill you.” Despite pleas from bystanders, Borbora continued his assault and threatened witnesses to stop recording the incident.
The video drew swift condemnation, with Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), GP Singh, calling the behaviour “unacceptable.” Singh announced Borbora’s suspension and ordered a departmental inquiry, also instructing the Guwahati Police Commissioner to post a replacement officer immediately. “The behaviour of Insp Bhargav Borbora OC Panbazar is unacceptable. He is being placed under suspension with immediate effect,” Singh stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Gyandeep, who has been working as a delivery agent for two months to support himself financially, admitted to breaking traffic rules but expressed regret, explaining that he was in a hurry. He also declined to file an official complaint against Borbora.
However, Cotton University students and activists, including former secretary of the university’s students’ union, Himangshu Kumar Das, and AASU members Kuldeep Gautam Sarma, Tanmoy Baruah, Gaurav Sarma, Taajdik Akhtar, and Ayushman Pegu, have demanded stronger action.
The students insist a public apology from Borbora within 48 hours, warning of a more vigorous agitation if their demand is not met. Protesters argue that suspension alone is insufficient punishment for such misconduct.
