Darrang Police lathi-charge quarantine centre inmates

GUWAHATI: The Darrang district administration on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry into alleged baton-charge by police on residents of a quarantine centre after the inmates “created a ruckus” inside the facility complaining about the quality of food served to them.
“It has been reported that an incident of lathi-charge has taken place at Dalgaon Adarsha Vidyalay quarantine centre under Dalgaon police station in Darrang district on Friday. It has been felt necessary to conduct an inquiry into the incident of at the centre,” an order issued and signed by the Darrang district magistrate read, adding that the report will be submitted within 7 days
The incident was reported in Darrang district, about 90km away from here, where about 471 inmates are staying in four units.
A senior district official said, “The inmates came out of the quarantine centre complaining about the quality of morning tea served to them. This might have prompted the police to baton-charge them. Police had to take this step to keep the situation under control and send them back inside.”
He also added that two local leaders had agitated the people to come out from the centre and protest.
Darrang deputy commissioner Dilip Kumar Borah visited the quarantine centre and requested the inmates to go back inside. Borah told TOI that the situation is now under control and food has been served to them.
“We have ordered an inquiry to ascertain what exactly happened that the police had to resort to lathi-charge. Allegations regarding the quality food will also be looked into. District development commissioner Sweety Gogoi Kalita will carry out the inquiry,” Borah said.