Congress expels Assam leader held for raping woman

Zeenews Bureau

Guwahati: In a swift move, the ruling Congress on Thursday expelled a party leader who has been accused of raping a mother of two. Bikram Singh Brahma, who is Baksa district Congress Committee chairman and Congress coordinator of Bodoland Territorial Council, allegedly raped the married woman in Lower Assam`s Chirang district and was thrashed by angry villagers before being arrested. The development comes in the midst of the outrage in the country over the Delhi gang-rape case. Brahma was caught by locals after he allegedly raped the woman late last night at Santipura village with women beating him up, Chirang Superintendent of Police Kumar Sanjeev Krishna said. Bramha was arrested after an FIR was lodged by the victim`s husband, Krishna said. TV channels telecast footage of Bramha, who had contested the 2011 Assembly Elections from Sapaguri constituency in Baksa district, being slapped, kicked and caned by agitated men and women who ripped off his clothes. The Congress had earlier in the day suspended Bramha after Opposition parties lashed out against the party. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also warned that anyone found guilty of the heinous crime "would not be spared, whether he is Congressman or not" Gogoi, who is in Delhi, said "It is most condemnable. It is a most heinous crime. He should be punished.... Police have already arrested him. The case should be disposed of at the earliest." The CM said his government has been strict in handling such cases like the Guwahati molestation incident. He said in the molestation case too, he had ordered an inquiry to find out if there was any lapse which led to acquittal of some of the accused. "The government does not make a distinction whether the culprit is a Congressman or from any other party. Action will be taken as per law," the Chief Minister said while favouring fast tracking of such cases. The Opposition BJP and AGP accused the government of failing to ensure security of women in the state "The state government and the chief minister has failed to provide security to women," BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal said. Asom Gana Parishad working president Atul Bora (Junior) said. "At a time when incidents of crime against women are on the rise across India, the fact that a ruling party leader is involved in such an incident shows the moral degradation of the Congress and the state government." (With PTI inputs)