Under-trial prisoner dies in Assam jail; AAMSU demands independent probe

The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has called for an independent investigation into the death of an under-trial prisoner at the Udalguri district jail. Badsha Ali, a resident of Aminpara, was found dead in his cell around 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

Udalguri Senior Superintendent of Police Padmanabh Baruah stated that preliminary findings suggest Ali, who faced multiple criminal charges, died by suicide using a gamosa (cloth towel). Police and jail authorities have initiated an inquiry, and a magisterial probe is expected to follow.

AAMSU described the death as a suspected custodial death and demanded a transparent investigation. “The authorities must clarify how such an incident happened in a prison, considered one of the most secure places for a person in judicial custody,” said Khurshed Alam, AAMSU district committee president. He added that the family plans to approach the Assam Human Rights Commission for a high-level inquiry.

In a separate incident, Assam Police have arrested five individuals, including the owner of an iron casting unit in Cachar district, following an explosion that killed four workers on Sunday. The factory owner, Rakesh Kumar Surana, was arrested in Guwahati on Monday and taken to Udharbond police station. Four others, including the factory manager, were arrested locally.

Police booked the owner on charges of negligence, citing a failure to ensure adequate safety measures. A team of forensic experts will examine the site to determine the exact cause of the explosion, which is suspected to have been triggered by a leak from an LPG cylinder during the iron-casting process.

The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed the identities of the deceased: Kiran Munda, Appu Baraik, Shyamal Gour, and Sagar Nath. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of each victim.