In a shocking incident of alleged moral policing in Assam’s Golaghat district, two boys were brutally assaulted and tortured by local leaders, including an AASU unit president and a BJP functionary, prompting public outrage and calls for justice.
The assault occurred in Gelabil under the Sarupathar constituency and involved degrading methods such as the application of salt and chili water. The accused—Shasanka Shreshtha, Raju Shreshtha, and Ranjit Shreshtha—are currently on the run.
Eyewitnesses report that the victims were accused of theft, but no formal complaint had been filed prior to the violent episode. Locals say the assault resembled a public lynching more than lawful action, raising concerns over rising instances of mob justice and politically shielded vigilantism.
Among those named is Shasanka Shreshtha, president of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Sarupathar regional unit. He is joined by Raju Shreshtha, general secretary of the BJP’s Borpathar Mandal, and a third individual, Ranjit Shreshtha. All three have been absconding since the incident came to light.
The use of salt and chili water as a form of punishment has been widely associated with torture and custodial violence, making the case particularly egregious. Medical sources confirmed the boys sustained multiple injuries and are undergoing treatment.
In the wake of mounting public outrage, political and student bodies have begun taking disciplinary action against those implicated in the Gelabil moral policing case. Raju Shreshtha has been officially relieved of his duties as General Secretary of the BJP’s Barpathar Mandal. The decision was confirmed in a formal statement issued by Ashim Dutta, President of the Barpathar Mandal BJP Committee.
Similarly, the All Golaghat District Students’ Union has announced the removal of Shasanka Shreshtha from his position as president of AASU’s Sarupathar regional committee. The move is seen as a response to growing criticism over the organization’s silence and the need to uphold accountability within its ranks.
