Guwahati: In a somber ceremony, Congress member Advocate Mridul Islam, who tragically lost his life during a protest in Guwahati on December 18, 2024, was laid to rest on Thursday in his home village in Boko, Kamrup district.
Family members, supporters, and senior leaders from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) gathered to pay their final respects to the young advocate, whose death has ignited widespread outrage.
Prominent attendees at the burial included APCC President Bhupen Borah, AICC Secretary and Co-Incharge for Assam PCC Manoj Chauhan, Assam PCC Working President Jakir Hussain Sikdar, and MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed. The gathering reflected the collective grief and determination of the Congress party to seek accountability for Islam’s death, which occurred during the ‘Raj Bhawan Chalo’ protest.
The protest, organized by the Assam Congress, aimed to highlight pressing issues in the state, including the government’s implementation of smart meters and concerns over alleged irregularities involving Adani enterprises. The event turned chaotic when police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, leading to a tragic turn of events. Islam’s sudden death has left the Congress party and the public in shock, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Speaking at the burial, APCC President Bhupen Borah reiterated the party’s demand for a judicial inquiry into Islam’s death. Borah emphasized the need for accountability and warned that the Congress would stage another protest at Janata Bhawan if their demands were not addressed promptly. He specifically called for an investigation into the police’s use of tear gas, which he described as excessive and unwarranted.
Conflicting accounts have emerged in the aftermath of the protest. Guwahati Commissioner of Police Diganta Barah claimed during a press briefing that the Congress had not obtained permission for the demonstration. He stated that protesters breached two barricades before being stopped at a third, where police deployed tear gas to control the crowd. Addressing Islam’s death, Barah suggested that the Congress leader fell ill after consuming water in his vehicle, a claim that has raised further questions about the official narrative.
As the Congress continues to press for justice, Islam’s death has become a rallying point for the party and its supporters. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation of police actions and calls for greater transparency and accountability in handling protests.