Silchar: Residents and citizens' organisations of Karimganj have alleged that police are dragging their feet on the investigation into the death of Pratyoy Das, who allegedly committed suicide over his wife's extra-marital affairs.

Das had posted a Facebook status on November 30 holding his wife, three policemen Pawan Kalita, Nipul Ahmed and Amir Khasru Alam and another youth, Roshan Habib, responsible for his death before hanging himself at his residence.

An FIR was lodged by his father Pranay Kumar Das seeking the arrest of Pratyoy's wife and the three men. Pranay Das said his son killed himself because of his wife's betrayal and police inaction despite an FIR being lodged by Pratyoy after he learnt about his wife's affairs.

Pawan and Amir are sub-inspector and constable at Karimganj Sadar police station while Nipul worked under the additional director-general of police, CID, in Guwahati. Roshan, of Madhurbond in Silchar, is believed to be the woman's present boyfriend.

Sources said Nipul was arrested from Karbi Anglong but released on bail. The other accused were not arrested immediately and they managed to get bail, they said.

Karimganj superintendent of police Gaurav Upadhyay said on Saturday that the accused had got interim bail from Gauhati High Court and investigation in the case was under way. He said a probe report will be submitted in court in the first week of January.

North Karimganj legislator Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha alleged the accused were roaming free because of police negligence. "Instead of arresting them, the police intentionally delayed the process to help them get bail," he alleged.

He said he recently informed director-general of police Mukesh Sahay about the case and he assured him the matter would be solved and those found guilty would be punished.

Protests will be staged if those responsible for the death of an innocent man are not punished, Purkayastha said.