Itanagar, May 26: Fresh video footage allegedly showing visible injuries on Arunachal Pradesh anti-drug activist Gumin Mize has intensified allegations of custodial torture against Assam Police, with student bodies and social organisations claiming the visuals strengthen accusations of physical assault during his detention.
The controversy escalated after members of organisations from Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU), circulated a video clip purportedly showing bruises and injury marks on Mize while he was being escorted to court after his arrest by Assam Police. The footage has sparked renewed public debate and intensified demands for an independent investigation.
Mize, a resident of East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh, has gained recognition through his anti-drug campaigns and rehabilitation efforts. He has been actively involved in identifying alleged drug traffickers, supporting families affected by substance abuse and assisting young people in rehabilitation initiatives across regions including Itanagar, Siang and Lower Subansiri.
The issue began after Mize was arrested by Bihpuria Police earlier this month from Itanagar. Police reportedly booked him under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act in connection with an incident in Bihpuria involving alleged gunfire.
According to police sources, the case concerns accusations of unlawful use of firearms. However, Mize’s legal team and supporters have disputed the allegations, maintaining that the incident involved legally licensed ammunition and that it had been used in self-defence during an altercation.
Earlier, Lakhimpur Senior Superintendent of Police Gunendra Deka had denied allegations of custodial torture and reportedly dismissed photographs circulating on social media as “AI-generated” and misleading.
The emergence of the latest video has now added a new dimension to the controversy. Several organisations have accused the police of attempting to conceal the alleged assault and questioned earlier claims made by officials.
AdiSU members claimed the footage had been secretly recorded by a member of the Anti-Drug Warriors group near a toilet area while Mize was being escorted during court proceedings. The organisation stated that the video appeared to show injury marks and bruises, which they argued contradicted the earlier explanation provided by police authorities.
Members of the organisation demanded that the footage undergo forensic examination, arguing that if earlier photographs had been questioned, the same standard should be applied to the video evidence as well. They also called for action against any officials found to have misled the public.
The arrest and subsequent allegations have triggered strong reactions across Arunachal Pradesh, with supporters and civil society groups alleging that Mize’s anti-drug activities may have affected influential networks involved in narcotics operations.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), led by External Affairs Secretary Reedeep Jack Doley, reportedly visited Bihpuria Police Station and met investigating officials regarding the matter.
Several organisations have also appealed to Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung to intervene and ensure a transparent inquiry into the allegations. The controversy has once again drawn attention to concerns over the drug trade and alleged narcotics networks operating along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, with activists calling for a high-level probe under judicial supervision.
