Sipajhar clash: Photographer whose video of violence went viral nabbed

Sept. 23: In a latest development, photographer Bijoy Baniya who was seen jumping and attacking an protestor during the Sipajhar violence incident and who later died was arrested by Assam police on Thursday evening. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered to immediately arrest cameraperson Bijoy Baniya who was caught on camera fatally assaulting a bullet-hit person. The arrested video photographer is presently in the custody of Assam CID.

In a tweet, Assam Police wrote, “In connection with the viral video of an incident at Gorukhuti, the said Cameraman has been arrested and a case has been registered by @AssamCid for further investigation.” Taking to his twitter handle, DGP Assam GP Singh wrote, “Currently in Sipajhar, taking stock of the ground situation. The cameraman who was seen attacking an injured man in a viral video has been arrested. As per wish of Hon. CM @himantabiswa.I have asked CID to investigate the matter. Cameraman Bijoy Bonia is in @AssamCid‘s custody.”

Reference video of incident at Gorukhuti, Darrang – the said cameraman has been arrested in a case registered with @AssamCid in connection with the incident. @mygovassam @CMOfficeAssam @assampolice

— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) September 23, 2021

On Thursday morning, when officials of the Darrang district administration supported by a huge contingent of armed security personnel reached Siajhar-Dholpur area to carry out an eviction drive, the locals protested.  The protest soon turned ugly, as demonstrators attacked policemen and other district administration officials with sticks and other sharp weapons. 

A video is making sensation on the Internet today. A cameraman of the Darrang DC Office Bijay Shankar Baniya was seen physically assaulting one of the injured persons, from Gorukhuti’s incident today. The individual later died. pic.twitter.com/CggZLoWyVD

— atanu bhuyan (@atanubhuyan) September 23, 2021

As the protests turned violent, the police had to resort to firing and lathi charges in an attempt to disperse the mob. A protestor was seen chasing the photographer, while, a team of police personnel stopped the protestor and took him down on the ground. As the protestor laid on the ground, the photographer identified as Bijoy Shankar Baniya jumped on the protestor’s chest and punched him brutally in the brief video which is going viral across social media. Over 500 families were evicted on Thursday.