Reported by Maksam Tayeng
Guwahati: Student and civil society organisations in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday released a video purportedly showing injuries sustained by anti-drug activist Gumin Mize, disputing Assam Police claims that photographs related to the alleged custodial torture were AI-generated.
The development comes a day after Lakhimpur Senior Superintendent of Police Gunendra Deka denied allegations of custodial torture and described images circulating on social media as artificially generated.
Several organisations, including the Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU), accused the Assam Police of attempting to cover up the incident and misleading the public.
According to AdiSU leaders, the video footage was recorded while Mize was being taken to court and showed visible bruises and injuries on his body.
“If the photographs are AI-generated as claimed by the Lakhimpur SSP, then the video footage should also be sent for forensic examination,” members of the organisation said, demanding suspension of police personnel if found guilty of misleading the public.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), led by External Affairs Secretary Reedeep Jack Doley, met the investigation team at Bihpuria Police Station on Tuesday.
Several organisations from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam alleged that the police were attempting to suppress evidence related to the case and demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations of custodial torture.
Some organisations also called for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), alleging possible involvement of a police officer from Itanagar in the incident.
The groups urged Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung to order a detailed probe into the matter.
The organisations further sought a wider investigation into alleged drug trafficking networks operating along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, claiming the region has witnessed a sharp rise in drug addiction among youths in recent years.
They demanded that any probe into the alleged narcotics network be conducted under the supervision of either the High Court or Supreme Court.