Dibrugarh: Five people have been detained over the death of Bir Lachit Sena member Manosh Jyoti Chetia in Sivasagar.Police detained Abidur Rahman, Selima Begum, Subera Begum, Selimur Rahman and Anwara Begum. They are among 10 people named in an FIR filed by the Bir Lachit Sena on Aug 25. Detention does not establish their involvement.Chetia, president of the organisation’s Simaluguri unit, was found critically injured beside a road in Bihubor on Aug 23. His motorcycle was found nearby. He was shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, where he died during treatment on Aug 25.Initially treated as a road accident, the incident was alleged by Chetia’s family and the Bir Lachit Sena to have been a planned attack. The organisation said Chetia, who was involved in flood relief work in Sivasagar, mediated a land dispute in Bihubor shortly before the incident and alleged it could be linked to the attack. Police have not confirmed the claim.The probe intensified after CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the police to step up the investigation. DGP Harmeet Singh said on Aug 26 that police were taking “serious steps to unearth the truth”. Police registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Bihubor police station.Sivasagar SSP Papori Chetia constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team headed by DSP Lila Borah. It includes Amguri police station OC Mridul Hazarika, investigating officer Chiraj Saikia and sub-inspector Sumi Barman.“A four-member SIT has been constituted to probe the case, and the investigation is currently underway,” said Sivasagar SSP Papori Chetia on Thursday.IGP Eastern Range Kangkan Jyoti Saikia, DIG Robin Kumar and physics, biology and DNA forensic teams are assisting the probe.Saikia said five FIR-named people were picked up; blood and viscera samples were sent for testing, while the autopsy report and further motorcycle tests were pending.“We have done a preliminary check on the bike that was recovered, and further tests remain to be done. Based on all these results, we will take the investigation forward,” IGP Saikia added.A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. The death heightened tension in Sivasagar, with Bir Lachit Sena leader Shrinkhal Chaliha demanding a transparent, high-level investigation. Police are examining his injuries, the events that preceded the incident and the allegations.
