Probe into police atrocity on KMSS activist begins

GUWAHATI: The public hearing on a magisterial probe into allegations of police atrocity on Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) activist Debendra Nath Sarma started on Thursday. Sarma, along with Akhil Gogoi, was arrested in connection with the 'self immolation' case of Pranab Boro, a KMSS supporter.
Police, who arrested Sarma on the night of March 1 from his residence located in the Lichubagan area here, have been accused by locals of manhandling Sarma's wife and daughter.Locals also alleged that police had opened fired to disperse those who were resisting his arrest.
On Thursday, Sarma, after registering his statement before the executive magistrate, told reporters, "Police not only manhandled my wife and daughter, they also broke my wife's sewing machine. It's her only source of income. Police have threatened to kill me. A senior official of the crime branch hit me badly while I was in police custody. I am yet to fully recover."
Though at least 32 witnesses reached the Kamrup (Metro) district administration office to register their statements in the case, only a few could do so.