Lady Singham of Assam Junmoni Rabha, who arrested her own fiance, dead in road accident

Assam's Lady Singham Junmoni Rabha, who earned monikers like 'Dabang Cop' due to her strictness and handling of several controversies, died in a car accident on Tuesday, May 16, in Nagaon district. At the time of the accident, Rabha was alone in her private vehicle and not in uniform. Her car collided head-on with a truck.

Family claims foul play 

• The police are currently unable to determine why the Sub-Inspector (SI) was travelling alone in her personal vehicle to Upper Assam, in civilian attire, and without any security.

• Her family members have stated that even they were unaware of her plans or whereabouts. 
• The container truck, bearing the registration number of Uttar Pradesh, was seized by the police. The driver escaped from the spot after the accident.

A controversy just before Rabha's death

According to PTI,  Junmoni Rabha's aunt said that on Monday night, a team of higher police officials conducted a raid at Junmoni's official quarter in Nagaon and seized around Rs 1 lakh. Her mother was also present during the raid.

What Assam Police said: Assam's Director General of Police, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, announced that an FIR was filed against the deceased sub-inspector (SI) at North Lakhimpur police station.

• The FIR was registered following a complaint by a woman and includes charges such as criminal conspiracy, dacoity, robbery, attempt to cause death, wrongful confinement, and extortion under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
• Singh stated that the police in Lakhimpur and Nagaon districts 'took appropriate legal action in response to the registered crime'. 

Junmoni Rabha: Cases and controversies 

Known for her strong personality, Junmoni shot to fame last year when she arrested her own fiance, and was in-charge of the Morikolong Police Outpost.   

Here are some of her cases that made headlines: 

Corruption charges

• In June 2022, Junmoni Rabha was apprehended on charges of alleged corruption, supposedly in collaboration with her former colleague (who was suspended after the corruption charges against him).
• A court in the Majuli district remanded Rabha to judicial custody, resulting in her suspension from the police service.
• However, her suspension was subsequently revoked, and she resumed her duties.

Arresting her own fiance

• In May 2022, Junmoni arrested her fiancé, Rana Pogag, for fraudulent activities.
• Junmoni Rabha filed an FIR accusing Pogag of deceiving people by promising them job opportunities and contracts within ONGC.
• Consequently, Pogag was arrested on charges of cheating and is currently incarcerated in Majuli jail in Assam.

However, later, allegations arose suggesting that Rabha and Pogag were collaborating; with Pogag collecting money on her behalf. An investigation was initiated to examine these allegations, but they couldn't find anything. 

Argument with a BJP MLA

• In January 2022, she found herself embroiled in another controversy when a leaked telephone conversation between her and BJP MLA Amiya Kumar Bhuyan from the Bihpuria constituency surfaced.
• The conversation captured a heated argument between them, triggered by Rabha's arrest of certain boatmen for operating country boats with unauthorised machinery and alleged harassment of the constituents in Bhuyan's constituency.
• The leaked audio tape caused a significant uproar, prompting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to emphasise the importance of treating elected representatives 'with respect'.

The latest: Junmoni's death case will be now handled by the CID, and her family has demanded an 'impartial probe' from the Assam CM.

READ MORE: What is the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute?