The Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) on Saturday condemned Dima Hasao police for its alleged highhandedness against non-Dimasa picketers during the indefinite North Cachar Hills bandh called by the IPF on February 11.

IPF secretary L. Hlima Keivom said, “The IPF picketers were not allowed to enter the town. They were stopped at Kunjung, Kalibari, Mahadev Tilla and other strategic areas throughout the day on February 11. However, the Dimasa youths, who were allowed to move freely with their vehicles, unleashed violence on the non-Dimasa picketers in certain places.”

Keivom alleged that the office of the North Cachar Hills Students’ Forum was raided by certain Dimasa youths. “They attacked the house of IPF working president S. Jeme and damaged vehicles owned by him,” he said.

The IPF secretary also alleged police brutality upon North Cachar Hills Students’ Forum president David Keivom.

“He was made to lie down on the road and beaten up mercilessly by the police,” he said.

“The security personnel also manhandled students’ forum general secretary Paoneilun Changsan while he extended his hand to shake with additional superintendent of police M. Gogoi,” Keivom added.

Dima Hasao superintendent of police Bir Bikram Gogoi rubbished the allegation.

“Any form of bandh is banned by the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court. By calling the bandh, the IPF itself violated the ruling of the highest court,” he said.

Refuting the IPF allegation levelled against the police of biasness and excesses, Gogoi said, “You cannot stop anyone from moving freely since bandh itself is an illegal act. Even on February 11, people of Dima Hasao roamed freely despite the bandh exercising their fundamental rights.”

Gogoi said, “Every preventive step was taken with due permission from the district magistrate. We took swift action, ensured safety of both men and property and restored normalcy within the shortest possible time.”