Jorhat(Assam): The main accused in the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader Animesh Bhuyan’s mob lynching case in Jorhat died on Wednesday morning while trying to escape from police custody. Police said that the accident took place when the accused Niraj Das tried to escape from a police van.
Police said that Neeraj Das was also believed to be involved in the drugs trade and they were taking him in a van to lead the police from where the drugs racket was being operated. However, near the Gattani Factory area at Chinamora, he tried to escape by jumping from the van and was seriously injured. Three injured policemen along with Das were brought to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, where Das was declared as brought dead.
Although he was rushed to Jorhat Medical College Hospital he died on the way. Niraj and 12 others had been arrested by the police for their involvement in the mob lynching incident at Jorhat where All Assam Students Union leader Animesh Bhuyan was brutally lynched.
Also Read: One lynched to death by mob in Assam's Jorhat town
Meanwhile, a section of people on Wednesday rejoiced in Assam's Jorhat town after the news spread that Niraj Das died while escaping from police custody. A section of people even celebrated by bursting firecrackers in the town, where the main accused and some others lynched student leader on Monday over a road accident on November 29.
Police stated that " during interrogation, Niraj gave us some lead regarding a drugs racket. While he was being taken by the police for investigation, Niraj tried to escape by jumping off the van and was hit and run over by the other police vehicle following the team," said Jorhat Superintendent of Police Ankur Jain.
There was so much anger against the lynching that the ambulance owners in Jorhat refused to carry the body of Niraj to his house after the post mortem. The members of the Jorhat Bar association have also made it clear that none of them are going to defend the 12 accused involved in Monday's mob lynching of Animesh Bhuyan.
