Guwahati: Dibrugarh police apprehended former All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) General Secretary, Sankor Jyoti Baruah, on Monday in connection with a violent clash that occurred at a petrol pump in Duliajan. This development follows his initial detention by Duliajan police on Sunday night, after which he was transferred to Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station under stringent security measures for interrogation.
Formal arrest procedures were completed after preliminary investigations, leading to the registration of two separate cases against Baruah, numbered 89/2025 and 90/2025. The latter case includes significant charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, specifically U/S 196(1)(a)/196(1)(b)/197(1)(b)/197(1)(c)/197(1)(d)/3 (5)/352/353(1)(b)/353(1)(c)/353(2), underscoring the seriousness of the alleged offenses.
The incident involved a physical confrontation among three groups, totaling approximately 20 individuals, resulting in injuries to four petrol pump employees. Police action was reportedly initiated following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) by a woman. Standard procedure was followed with Baruah undergoing a medical examination before his formal arrest. Upon his arrival at the police station, access for media personnel to communicate with him was restricted.
During the interrogation process, Baruah asserted that his presence at the petrol pump was solely for the purpose of mediating and diffusing the escalating situation. He denied any involvement in the violent acts. Interestingly, a video circulating on social media seems to corroborate his statement, depicting him attempting to pacify the individuals engaged in the altercation.
The police have officially stated that the investigation into the matter remains active and ongoing. Authorities are diligently working to identify all individuals involved in the brawl, which they have characterized as a “serious incident” considering the injuries sustained and the number of people involved. Law enforcement officials have indicated that further arrests are a possibility as the investigation progresses.