Tinsukia: A one-man commission led by Assam finance commissioner and secretary Shyam Jagannathan on Thursday reportedly recorded statements of 26 persons in connection with the killing of Dr Deben Dutta by an unruly mob of garden workers inside Teok Tea Estate in Assam’s Jorhat district on August 31.
The development comes at a time when the lockout was lifted in two divisions of Teok Tea Estate — Khanikor and Dalim — after a gap of 11 days. The management of the tea estate, Tata Tea Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited, had declared lockout on September 1, a day after the 73-year-old veteran doctor was killed.
According to sources, Jagannathan went to the residence of the deceased doctor and recorded statements of his family members, including his wife.
“He held public hearings at Teok circle office and district headquarters where several officials of the tea estate deposed before him, besides several other persons,” the source added.
A total of 26 persons deposed before the commission during the public hearing, a highly placed source confirmed EastMojo. Attempts to speak with Monjil Dutta, son of the deceased doctor, turned futile.
On September 4, the chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal had ordered Jagannathan to inquire into the gruesome killing, and submit its report within 30 days.
The 11-day-long lockout is being lifted in a phase-wise manner, starting from Thursday, following a meeting held at the office of deputy commissioner of Jorhat on Wednesday.
The meeting, headed by deputy commissioner Roshani A Korati, was attended by representatives of tea estate management, officials of labour commissioner office, members of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangh (ACMS) and representatives of labourers of all five division.
On Friday, the lockout will be lifted from Namisu division and on Saturday, Teok and Jogduar divisions will be opened.
