Skip to content Skip to navigation

Murder Mayhem atop Haflong: Govt Postpones Polls

By pbaruah |

Haflong: The Assam Government postpones the election for the North Cachar Hills District Council in view of the ambush that left Purnendu Langthasa and Nindu Langthasa dead even as the Black Widow claims the killing responsibility.


Winding up the hurricane trip with Governor Lt General Ajoy Kumar Singh, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi hunkered down with his cabinet colleagues in Dispur on Tuesday evening and accepted the report from the North Cachar Deputy Commissioner Anil Baruah, who urged the Government to postpone the poll in view of the volatile law and order situation.


Besides condemning the incident, the meeting decided to arrange a tight security arrangement to restore normalcy in the hills district.


During the trip, the Governor and Chief Minister assessed the prevailing situation at a meeting with the top ranked police and civil officials at the Circuit House. Mr Gogoi decided to rush five additional security force company to help the district administration contain the situation.


Both the Governor and the Chief Minister visited former minister and sitting MLA G C Langthasas, father of Purnendu and condoled the death.


Meanwhile, the police have yet to arrest the culprits behind the incident although sources say cash played an important role in the incident. They also confirm it a handiwork of the Black Widow.


The mortal remains of Purnendu and Nindu have consigned to flames in presence of thousands of people in Haflong on Tuesday afternoon.


Normalcy has yet to return to the hilly town and streets wear deserted look and the loyalists of the Langthasa are gatecrashing the residence of Purnendu Langthasa, the Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council to visit the bereaved family.


Notably, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) and his associate Member in-charge of Education were shot dead by suspected Black Widow militants at Umrangshu on Monday at on their way to Longlei Hasnu village to attend a poll meeting. Two of their PSOs were also killed in the attack.


It is learnt that the militants had invited the member duo for a ‘dialogue’ at Longei Basti at 1.40 pm and sprayed several rounds of bullets on them.


Purnendu is the eldest son of former Asom Cabinet minister and the Congress MLA Gobinda Chandra Langthasa. His second son was also killed by militants two years back.


Both Mr Singh and Gogoi condemned the incident. Mr Gogoi termed the killing as an act of cowardice and said senseless killings would not solve any problem and instead it would compound the situation further.


Meanwhile, words of condemnation are still pouring in. The Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU) condemns the killing. The students body demanded immediate removal of deputy commissioner Anil Kumar Baruah for his inability in tackling the situation.

  • 12962 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Secret killing: Nurul refutes charges

Former minister and sitting Asom Gana Parishad legislator Nurul Hussain strongly refutes K N Saikia panel’s indictment in the secret killing cases.Addressing the reporters here, the AGP leaders say the panel in ites report has not clearly mentioned his name in connection with the Parameswar Kalita murder case and therefore he is free of any charges.“Moreover whatever I said before the panel during the time of my deposition was not recorded.”Meanwhile, hundreds of people from Hajo came out to the streets on Monday demanding action against the legislators saying him a secret killer.They say they need not a killer to represent them from hajo.They further sent a memorandum to...

Poll preparation afoot in North Cachar

A mammoth security arrangement is on the cards to ensure free and fair election for the North Cachar Hills District Council.According to information, the authorities have chalked a detailed plan of action in respect of duties to be carried out by the election machinery prior to, during and after the polls.Sixteen cells are functioning round the clock to ensure a free and fair election process with the polls slated for November 26 and December 1.NC Hills Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Anil Kumar Baruah and Election Officer L Zovi Nampul are closely monitoring the poll preparation in view of the deteriorating law and order scenario.Mr Baruah is holding several rounds of meetings...

Secret killing: AGP leaves Mahanta in the lurch

Its a big blow for former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The party he headed earlier now leaves him in the lurch.And that too at a time when the retired Justice K N Saikia panel has indicted him in the secret killing cases.Asom Gana Parishad president Brindabon Goswami says his party will not shield Mr Mahanta saying he is no longer with the regional party.Talking to the correspondent here, Mr Goswami says his party will not share the blame with former Chief Minister. Instead, his party seeks action against him if really he is found involved in the crime. The biggies of the party will meet on November 21 to discuss the implication of its MLA from Hajo and former minister Nurul...

Pressure mounts on govt for action against Mahanta, others

The pressure on the Assam government for action against those indicted in the Justice K N Saikia Commission is mounting day by day.The Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti sets a three month deadline for the government to take legal action against former Chief Ministere Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, sitting Asom Gana Parishad MLA and former minister Nurul Hussain, sitting MLAs and surrendered leader Jiten Gogoi, Kushal Duwari and others found guilty of secret killings during the erstwhile Mahanta regime.On the other hand, All Assam Students Union also joins the cry for action against the secret killers.The leaders with the powerful students union say they will not remain calm till those people...

Love not for loss: SC shows the way

If love is true to its sense, can justice be far behind? This is what the Supreme Court has proved in yet another landmark judgment recently.For Haramohan Barman and Phuleswari from Assam’s Kokrajhar district everything went hunky dory. Phuleswari conceived at the height of love they have been making before getting married to Haramohan. And that too was not a problem for the couple.But both of them had to swim in troubled waters as soon as Haramohan thought of forcible abortion to avoid any stigma.A beleagured Phuleswari knocked at the doors of Gauhati High Court and the verdict went in her favour. It ordered a six year long jail for Haramohan .A stunned Haramohan approached the...

48-hour central bandh from Monday

Three Tiwa organisations are all out to halt the panchayat polls in the areas falling under the Tiwa Autonomous Councils. According to information, these bodies are calling for a 48 hour central Assam bandh in protest against the panchayat polls in the Tiwa dominate areas in Nagaon, Morigaon and Kamrup. The will further intensify the strike by road blockade on November in Jagiroad.Notably, the government is gearing up for the three phased panchayat polls starting from December 31. The state election panel has already issued notification to this effect on November 16 after the decks being cleared by the Gauhati High Court.

Secret killing: Mahanta to approach the Court

Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta will rush to the court as the Assam Government gets ready for legal action against him along with those indicted by the K N Saikia Commission in the extra judicial killings during the erstwhile AGP-led government.Reliable sources here say Mr Mahanta is in talk with a few legal experts to avoid any implication in the light of the K N Saikia commission’s findings. Final decision is coming out in a day or two.Talking to media persons on Friday, the leaders with his Pragatisheel Asom Gana Parishad said he would approach the judiciary. They criticized the Saikia Commission report saying it was prepared at the instance of the Chief Minister....

Govt soon to take action against Mahanta, others

The Assam Government will soon initiate legal action against former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta along with those indicted by the K N Saikia Commission in the extra judicial killings during the erstwhile AGP-led government.Addressing a crowded press conference here on Friday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says the government will set up a committee of legal experts from out side to seek their opinion to take legal action against these indicted persons.Notably, Mr Gogoi on Thursday tabled the Justice K N Saikia Commission report along with the J N Sarma report which indicted Mr Mahanta, then minister now sitting MLA from Hajo Nurul Hussain and a few surrendered ULFA leaders.It may be...

Decks clear: Gogoi ready to table secret killing reports

The Assam Government has already cleared the decks to table both the secret killing reports of both the Justice K N Saikia Commission and Justice JN Sarma Commission on the floor of the House on Thursday. According to reliable sources here, the decision was taken after considering all legal options to avoid all future embarrassment. But there will not be any action taken report on the Justice J N Sarma Commission as it was rejected by the government. Dispur was holding talks with legal experts to tide over the Catch-22 situation and to ensure a hassle-free proceeding for Thursday’s Assembly session. According to information, the Assam government found it difficult to table the...

Encroachment: Assam losing 104767.49 hectares

Assam is losing a vast plot measuring 104767.49 hectares to the neighbouring states namely Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.Official information tabled on the floor of the Assam Assembly on Tuesday has it that Nagaland tops the list with 66241.69 hectares.These include 19,777.63 hectares in Jorhat, 4,279.06 hectares in Sivasagar, 200.00 in Karbi Anglong while Golaghat district is lossing an area of 41,985.00 hectares to Nagaland.Assam losses another area measuring 13,184.88 hectares to Arunachal Pradesh.Of this plot, 6200.00 hectares in Tinsukia district, 2495.00 hectares in North Lahimpur, 570.00 hectares in Sivasagar, 1978.00 hectares in Dhemaji district with 1940.00...