Legislator held, strike affects normalcy
An Assam legislator was arrested yesterday for his role in the ethnic violence in the state, police said. Pradip Brahma belongs to the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF).
Soon after his arrest, the district administration imposed an indefinite curfew in Kokrajhar district from 5:00am but hundreds of BPF supporters defied the curfew and came out to the streets and blocked railway tracks several places including Kokrajhar railway station, demanding Brahma's immediate release.
He was held after seven cases were registered against him in Fakiragram and Dotama police stations in Kokrajhar district, Inspector General of Police LR Bishnoi told IANS.
Police sources said complaints were filed against the legislator by Bengali-speaking Muslims from the Dotama area.
The BPF, led by its chief Hagrama Mihilary, is in power in the Bodoland Territorial Council that runs the four Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts. The party is also a partner in the state's Congress-led government.
Brahma is close to Mohilary and represents the West Kokrajhar assembly constituency.
On Wednesday night, fresh violence had broken out in Dhubri district in which one person was injured and two people went missing.
Meanwhile, normal life was affected in lower Assam districts yesterday due to a day-long bandh called by a Muslim outfit to protest against the recent violence, PTI reported.
Official sources said shops, schools, business establishment and financial institutions remained closed while there was less traffic on the national highway.
The bandh has been called by new outfit Muslim Yuva Parishad.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a discussion with members of the civil society.
Gogoi admitted that relief camps were overcrowded and there was need for decongestion and proper sanitation. He appealed to the people to ignore rumours which were spreading “like wildfire”.
Expressing concern over destruction of houses and property, civil society members urged the government to seize illegal arms.
They also expressed concern at the exodus of north-east people from other states and urged students and professionals not to pay heed to rumours.
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