Assam: Family rejects authorities' self-defence claims in death of two Muslim brothers

GUWAHATI: The family members of Samaruddin (35) and Abdul Jalil (40), residents of Dhingbari Chapari village in Nagaon district, have strongly refuted the Assam authorities' claims that the brothers were killed in "self-defence" by forest guards.

The two men were shot while visiting Rowmari Beel wetland, allegedly without permission.

According to an Assam police statement, the brothers were attempting to enter a wildlife sanctuary when confronted by a guard, who fired after they allegedly refused to comply with orders to stop.

Both men sustained bullet injuries and were later declared dead at Nagaon Civil Hospital in Assam.

However, the family offers a different account. On the evening of June 22, the brothers left their home to escape the oppressive heat and humidity, exacerbated by frequent power outages.

Marufa Khanam, Samaruddin’s wife, recalled that her husband had gone to join others near an embankment, less than 200 meters from where villagers fish.

This was the last time she saw him alive.

Eighty-year-old Foriban Nesa, mother of the deceased, expressed her grief: "My sons Samaruddin and Jaliluddin are martyrs. My heart is breaking. The mother and father are alive, but the sons have been killed."

Abdul Barek, the elder brother of the victims, recounted waking to the sound of gunshots around 12:30 am.

He witnessed unusual activity near the fishery opposite his house, including multiple vehicles arriving and departing.

He learned of his brothers' deaths only after morning prayers when police arrived and identified him as their guardian.

"The police took me and said they needed my signature. I gave a thumb impression instead. When I saw my brother’s body, all the bullet wounds were on the chest, with one on the head," Barek said.

Marufa Khanam denied the accusation of illegal poaching, questioning why her husband and brother-in-law would go unarmed if they intended to poach.

Nilufa Khatun, Jalil Uddin’s wife, added that both brothers worked in Kerala’s plywood industry, sending money home regularly to support their families.

The incident has sparked accusations of a "fake encounter" from critics who condemned the use of excessive force by authorities.

The All Assam Minority Students Union protested in Nagaon district, demanding justice for the victims.

In response to the outrage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered a probe into the incident.

"Last night, individuals from Sutripar village trespassed into the Lawkhua-Burachapari Reserve Forest. During an encounter with patrolling forest guards, a guard opened fire in self-defence, resulting in the deaths of Samaruddin (35) and Abdul Jalil (40)," Sarma posted on the X-platform.

"I have directed the Chief Secretary of Assam to immediately constitute an inquiry to investigate the incident thoroughly," he added.