Guwahati, 21st May: In a distressing incident in Bogijuli, Sonitpur, an elderly man named Prasad Barman was violently attacked by a group of 6-7 individuals on May 20, under the suspicion of selling marijuana. The assault left Barman with severe injuries, and he is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
Eyewitnesses reported that the mob accosted Barman and subjected him to a brutal beating, accusing him of involvement in the illegal drug trade. Despite his protests of innocence, the mob continued their assault until bystanders intervened and contacted the authorities.
This violent episode follows closely on the heels of another shocking case of moral policing in Assam. On May 4, in Gur village, Dalgaon, a woman was subjected to horrific torture by a mob, purportedly under suspicion of throwing stones on a neighbor’s roof. The attackers dragged her from her home, tied her to a tree, and beat her. In an extreme act of cruelty, they poured water mixed with chili powder over her body.
The brutal attack was filmed and the video quickly spread on social media, eliciting widespread condemnation. The incident reportedly occurred at night, with the woman’s husband, identified as a key instigator, among the ten individuals named in the FIR filed at Panbari police station. The neighbor, Baharul Islam, was also implicated.
Villagers revealed that the woman’s husband has a history of multiple marriages, which has further complicated the case. The woman was eventually rescued by local villagers and taken to the hospital for urgent medical care.
Both incidents highlight the alarming rise in vigilante justice and moral policing in the region, prompting calls for stricter law enforcement and community education to prevent such acts of violence.
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