Third force may be involved in killing of tea estate owner: Assam CM

Tarun Gogoi said that some "outside third force" may be involved in the brutal killing of a tea estate owner and his wife in Tinsukia district.

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday said that some "outside third force" may be involved in the brutal killing of a tea estate owner and his wife in Tinsukia district last week, amid apprehensions about Maoist involvement in the violence.

"I cannot say for sure but maybe some outside force is involved in the killing. I am not ruling that out. We have ordered an inquiry and that will bring out the truth," Gogoi told reporters here on the sidelines of a Congress party event.

Asked if Maoists elements are involved in the incident, he said "I do not have definite information regarding involvement of Maoists. But it is a fact that Maoists have started large scale propaganda in some particular belts in the state."

MKB (Asia) Pvt Ltd proprietor Mridul Kumar Bhattacharya, and his wife Reeta were burnt alive when a group of disgruntled workers set afire their bungalow in Kunapathar tea estate on December 26.

Gogoi said tea garden workers in the state still face deprivation and there is a need to address their problems but stressed that nobody has a right to indulge in violence.

He said there was a need to implement labour laws to address the problems of workers.

"We have to bring an understanding between the workers and management of tea estates. We will have to take measures to benefit the labour force and address their grievances," he said.

Gogoi also said that community policing would be introduced in the state to bring police and people closer. It would help to curb crimes against women, he said.

"We need community policing. We need to train our police and also change the mindset of the people," he said.

Meanwhile, Assam DGP Jayanta Narayan Choudhury visited Tinsukia today and took stock of the situation. He said that five of the attackers involved in the incident have been identified and efforts are on to arrest them.

PTI

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.