Doctor assaulted by anti-citizenship bill protesters in Tinsukia, one held

Dibrugarh: An activist of the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Asom (TAYPA) was arrested on Sunday for assaulting a woman doctor in the Golai area of Margherita in Tinsukia during an anti-citizenship bill bandh on Saturday.

The woman, identified as Divya Singh Borthakur, is an ophthalmologist at Central Hospital in North Eastern Coalfields. The incident took place at around 1.10pm on Saturday while Borthakur was driving home in her car after dropping off her husband Biswadeep Borthakur, who is also a doctor by profession, at the Digboi civil health centre.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Assam on Saturday, TAYPA had called a 12-hour state-wide bandh in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. When she was driving by, the bandh supporters first pelted stones at her car and damaged the window panes. They then physically assaulted the doctor, leaving her with a bloodied face and several other injuries.

Later, her husband registered a case at the Digboi police station in connection with the incident. Officer in charge of Digboi Police Station Mahesh Bora said, “We have arrested the prime accused who has been identified as Bipul Buragohain. We are on the lookout for another 2-3 of his accomplices who were also involved in the attack. They are absconding, but will be in our custody soon.”

The woman’s husband, Biswadeep Borthakur, said, “There aren’t enough harsh words to condemn this incident. It’s a shame on Assam’s bandh culture that my wife was attacked in this manner. The culprits should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents are not repeated.”

TAYPA working president Lohit Gogoi said, “This was an unfortunate incident and we strongly condemn it. The attack was totally unintentional. But during such bandhs, emotions tend to run high and sometimes these kind of unfortunate incidents happen. We express our deep regret and wish the doctor a speedy recovery.”