2 Congress workers die in anti-BJP protests in Assam, UP

Two Congress workers died in police action in BJP-ruled Assam and UP on Wednesday during the party’s nationwide protests. The development is set to add fresh fuel to the Congress’ ongoing attack against the BJP and the demand for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly making disparaging remarks against Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha last evening.

In Guwahati, a Congress leader died after police fired tear gas shells at protesters during a ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ programme. Mridul Islam, an advocate by profession, who was the secretary of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee’s legal cell, collapsed following the police action and died later at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

Party demands independent probe

Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has demanded an independent probe into the deaths and immediate accountability from the authorities concerned.

Islam was one of the participants of the party’s nationwide demonstration to oppose the installation of smart meters, BJP-led Central Government’s refusal to discuss the Manipur crisis, allegations of corruption against the Adani Group and the ‘one nation, one election’ Bill.

“Mridul Islam did not die. The Himanta Biswa Sarma government murdered him through a planned crackdown on peaceful protesters. We have declared him the first martyr of our war against the corrupt BJP-led government,” state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah said in Guwahati.

Later, the party lodged an FIR at the Latasil police station, seeking action against the police officers responsible for Islam’s death. The party also sought compensation for the next of the kin of the deceased party worker.

Another Congress worker died during the party’s protest near the UP Assembly on Wednesday, with its state unit chief Ajay Rai claiming that he died due to “police brutality”. Prabhat Pandey, 28, a native of Gorakhpur, was brought dead to the hospital from the Congress’ office.