Kokrajhar, Oct. 8: Many people at Chitila, who had lodged FIR against Kokrajhar (West) Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) legislator Pradip Kumar Brahma and others for inciting mobs to torch villages during the recent riots, have withdrawn their complaints.
Confirming the development, Kalkiram Barman, in-charge of Chitila police outpost, said more than 25 cases, which were lodged against some individuals, including MLA Pradip Brahma, were withdrawn in the past three days.
Till Sunday, 25 cases from villages — Nayachara, Kartpara, Bagariguri, Binnachara under Chitila outpost were withdrawn. Most of the complaints and subsequent case registered with the police were of their houses and properties being damaged and torched.
Brahma was arrested on August 23 under Sections 120B/147/148/149/436/427/379/506 IPC in case number 27/12 at Dotma police station. However, on September 6, Gauhati High Court granted him bail.
Seven cases were registered against him in different police stations for his alleged role in the riots in Kokrajhar.
The MLA has been accused of allegedly leading a mob that torched houses in his constituency.
Barman said the police have carried out investigations into cases on torching of houses and damage to properties and loots, but “no such incidents in the area were found”.
“Most of the complaints turned out to be baseless and false,” he added.
The police has also held meeting with gaonburah, village defence party men and discussed the matter of bringing back peace.
Nabiat Zaman Miyah of Nayachara said his family had also lodged an FIR against such incidents while they were at a relief camp in Bilasipara. He said the complaint was not against the MLA, but against unidentified men who were involved in these incidents. He said, however, as peace returned to the area, he and his family members withdrew their complaints from the police station without any condition.
Brahma said he was arrested without any evidence of his involvement in the violence. “I am innocent,” he said.
However, citizens and intellectuals have questioned the motives as to why the complaints are withdrawn.
“There must be a motive behind withdrawing the cases,” said one of them.
Inquiry: The state government has constituted a one-man commission of inquiry headed by Justice (retd) Mutum B.K. Singh to probe the the clashes between the minority and the Bodo communities that took place in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and other districts from July 19.
Medical aid: A team of physicians led by Upendra Samanta, conducted medical camps for riot-hit people living in Hatiduara, Kamandanga, Tamarhat, Grahampur, Lakhiganj, Bogribari and Kacharigaon relief camps, attended to over 1,200 patients and also distributed medicines free of cost till yesterday.
