Thousands turned up for the funeral of a Congress leader in Assam on Thursday with the state party leadership blaming the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government for the “unfortunate” incident.

Mridul Islam, 45, passed away on Wednesday afternoon soon after he complained of uneasiness after participating in the Congress’ Raj Bhawan Chalo protest against the BJP-led administration.

The Congress attributed his death to the “excessive” and “indiscriminate” use of tear gas to disperse the protesters, affecting “everyone in the vicinity”. Over ten persons, including several journalists, were also taken ill following the use of tear gas.

Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishas were among parties to condemn the administration for using tear gas on “peaceful” protesters.

Senior Congress leaders, led by Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah, attended Islam’s janaza near Sontali in Kamrup district on Thursday morning and “assured all help to the family”.

“A few thousand people from the area and adjoining districts attended the janaza... He (Islam) was quite popular in his area,” a Boko resident, who attended the funeral, told The Telegraph.

Assam PCC president Borah attacked chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government for Islam’s death, warning that the tears of Islam’s family and those who had turned up for his funeral “will sweep him and his BJP-government away”.

Borah also slammed Guwahati police commissioner Diganta Barah for claiming Islam was unwell, asking whether the senior police official “was a doctor”.

Seeking a judicial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Islam, Borah said: “If the probe is not ordered, we will gherao Janata Bhawan on Friday despite the prohibitory orders issued by the administration,” Borah said.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X that the police will conduct an inquiry into the incident.

“The institution of the Governor stands above partisan politics. Yesterday, Congress party leaders attempted to forcibly enter Raj Bhavan by breaching police barricades and causing chaos in the vicinity. The police will register an FIR and conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident, including a review of video recordings,” Sarma said.

Journalists’ protest

Members of the Gauhati Press Club on Thursday staged a protest at Ambari against the use of tear gas on journalists covering the Congress protest on Wednesday.