Assam: Police Shoots Man Trying To Flee From Custody After Being Arrested For Extortion

The police shot a man in the Sivasagar district of Assam who was arrested on charges of extortion after the man allegedly attacked police personnel and tried to flee from custody. Reportedly the man is also linked to the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent). 

The man who is currently being treated for his gunshot injuries was identified as Raju Ahmed.

Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, the Assam police spokesperson and inspector general of police told HT, “On Tuesday midnight, he tried to flee from Demow police station by attacking the officials and our officials in defence, fired bullets on him."

 According to police, Raju Ahmed was arrested on August 12 in the Demow district of Sivasagar after being accused of extortion. A Sivasagar district police officer told the media, “He was allegedly extorting money from local businessmen in the name ULFA-I and we received complaints. Based on the complaints, he was arrested."

 As part of the investigation, he was sent to police custody by a court and placed in various locations, reportedly.

According to the reports, a family member of Ahmed Raju insisted that he had been framed as an Ulfa-I linkman or an overground worker.

Further, Ahmed's family member informed the media that on Wednesday, a private individual he identified as Raju Phukan was also part of the police entourage when Raju Ahmed was brought to the police station for questioning after his arrest on August 12.

Ahmed's family member reportedly said, “Five policemen including the circle inspector and the VDP secretary came on that day. But one person named Raju Phukan, who was not a policeman, came with them."

He claimed Phukan had planted the note to demand 20 lakhs from Shashant Borgohain on Ulfa’s behalf.

Then, Ahmed's family member said that a piece of paper was passed by Phukan who sat next to Ahmed on a chair and the person continued to say, “Police considered this proof and ignored Phukan’s act. It is suspicious because they allowed Phukan to accompany them in the investigation… I feel that my son has been framed."

But this allegation has been denied by the Assam police and they have claimed that Ahmed was arrested with proper proof.