Silchar Truck Drivers' Association demands "high-level" probe of Assam man's death in Mizoram, threatens to block road once again

The death of 23-year-old Hawaithan man Fayaz Rehman Mazumdar in Mizoram’s custody has sparked a controversy. Son of late Jalal Uddin Mazumdar is a driver and was arrested in Vairengte gate by the Mizoram Police. As reported earlier by Barak Bulletin, Kolasib Police declared that Fayaz committed suicide while in judicial custody.

However, Fayaz Rehman Mazumdar’s older brother said that he finds the death suspicious. “My brother was hale and hearty when he left the house with his vehicle. He was missing for the last three days and today, we were informed by the truck drivers’ association in Kolasib about his death. While they are saying that my brother committed suicide, we don’t agree on the same and so we want a repeat postmortem here in Assam,” he asserted.

In November 2020, Lailapur resident, Intazul Laskar was declared dead by Mizoram in their custody. The Mizoram Police alleged that Laskar was a drug peddler, but his family members said he had gone to the forest to collect some wood. Later chief minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal had intervened and condemned the incident. He had said Intazul Laskar was “abducted by the miscreants” and also signed a cheque of Rs 5 lakh for the family. The ex-gratia relief was handed over to the family by chief secretary Jishnu Baruah and DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta.

Not only Fayaz Rehman’s brother, but the Silchar truck drivers’ association has also demanded a high-level probe of the driver’s death. “We find the death mysterious and so place our demand for an independent high-level probe done in Assam. We want the Assam Police to conduct a postmortem and ascertain facts. If our demands are not met, we will block the road again,” said Samsuddin Majumdar, working president of the Truck Drivers’ Association.

For the unversed, the Hawaithan man died in Mizoram late last night. According to the Superintendent of Police, Kolasib, Vanlalfaka Ralte, Rahman was arrested in Vairengte. “He was arrested on September 28, 2021, as he used to impersonate in the compulsory Covid testing gate at the entry point. It has happened on numerous occasions where he stood in the queue instead of the actual person who is supposed to undergo the test,” informed the SP.

SP Ralte added, “He was produced at the court where the magistrate ordered to send him to the judicial custody. Unfortunately, last night he hung himself. His body has been sent for postmortem which is being conducted under the supervision of magistrate.”

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Ramandeep Kaur has got the information and is in discussing the matter internally. “The body is yet to be handed over. We have been told that an inmate from Assam has committed suicide. However, it is a complicated process and so, it will take some time before they hand over the body,” said SP Kaur.