By TCN Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: On April 30, the Jorhat Session Court awarded jail term to seven police officials found guilty for the death of Sariful Hussain in their custody that took place back on August 26, 1994. On May 2, The Court announced the quantum of imprisonment and sentenced the then OC Kumud Chetia and two sub inspectors namely Nekibur Rahman and Phanidhar Bora for 5 years imprisonment and a fine of rupees 1000. Four constables involved in the case were awarded two years imprisonment and a fine of rupees 1000. These four constables are Bhupen Bora, Nur Islam, Ranjit Neog and Srinath Pathak. All the officers are now in Jorhat district jail.
Sariful Hussain of Moriani, Jorhat district was found allegedly stealing a scooter from ward no 3 of Jorhat town on August 25, 1994 and was later apprehended by police. Police tortured him and forcefully drowned him in a railway pond that resulted into his death. The case created a big hue and cry among the masses in Jorhat city. The then District Commissioner A.K Shesan ordered a magisterial enquiry but it didn’t prove fruitful.
Sariful’s parents Mia Ali and Hamida Begum filed an FIR in Moriani police station on August 26, 1994 demanding investigation and prosecution for the custodial death of their son. Police investigated the matter as per rule and filed charge sheet against only one officer in the due course of time. Jorhat Session Court was unsatisfied with the outcome and requested the Assam government to reinvestigate the case. Accordingly, CID conducted the enquiry and found the seven officers guilty and the Session Court of Jorhat in a 55 page verdict convicted the guilty accordingly.
Defence counsels prayed for leniency in the sentence citing health problems of Kumud Chetia and another sub-inspector which was rejected by the Session court.
It took 17 years to put the guilty police officers behind the bar. Hemen Bora, secretary of the Jorhat Bar Association said that the punishment as per the Indian penal code for stealing a scooter could be maximum imprisonment of 3 years and or fine. This is more heinous crime as the killing took place in the custody of the officers. Such verdicts are rare where seven officers were punished at a time in the state of Assam. The case will definitely strengthen people’s trust in the judiciary.
The financially weak family of Sariful Hussain continues to suffer due to the loss of the lone earning member of the family.