The Assam State Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the situation that developed during the Congress-organised December 18 Raj Bhavan Chalo protest against the ruling BJP.

A Congress activist, Mridul Islam, died soon after the protest and several others felt unwell, including journalists, due to the “excessive” use of tear gas to disperse the protestors near the Raj Bhavan.

The march was organised to protest against the BJP-led government’s inaction on the installation of smart meters, the Manipur crisis and allegations of corruption against the Adani Group.

The AHRC, which took cognisance given the gravity of the incident and the number of persons adversely affected, in its order on December 20 has directed the Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner and the Guwahati commissioner of police to submit reports on the incident with relevant documents. It has listed the matter on February 28.

The state Congress on Monday had submitted a memorandum to the AHRC on the “brutality” committed by the police on party members and journalists during the protest programme and to “register a case, enquire into the same, grant adequate punishment to the culprit...”

The APCC vice-president Nabajyoti Talukdar said they have also urged the AHRC to “direct” the Assam government to “make necessary arrangements for looking after the family of the deceased Mridul Islam or grant compensation the family of the deceased Mridul Islam and also direct granting of compensation to the journalists who have become victims of police brutality”.