Assam writes to CBI for Lafiqul murder probe

Guwahati:  Assam government on Friday wrote to the CBI requesting for an inquiry into the murder of student leader Lafiqul Islam Ahmed in Kokrajhar.

The state government has already formed a Special Investigation Team to inquire into the killling of Ahmed, president of the All-BTC Minority Students' Union (ABMSU).

The Union Home Ministry would now decide if the CBI would be given the responsibility. It will take some time," Media Adviser to Assam Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami told PTI.

The decision to handover the case to CBI was taken late last night during a meeting between Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, ABMSU, AMSU and BPF, he said.

Meanwhile, the government has appointed Anurag Tankha, an IG with the Assam Police, to head the SIT under the direct supervision of the DGP to probe the killing of the student leader.
"Tankha had a stint with the NIA and had vast experience of investigating such sensitive cases," Goswami said.

He said that the Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh had been kept outside any investigation team as family members of the slain leader, ABMSU and many local groups questioned the role of the official.

"The other person, who was injured during the attack, has been released from the hospital. He has been provided with armed security and sent home," Goswami said.

Director General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay said that two persons were arrested for the killing and some more persons were detained.

Lafiqul's mobile phone was sent for technical investigation., he said.

Sahay also thanked the people of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) and local social organisations for not allowing the situation to deteriorate despite very charged atmosphere.

"Some protests are still going on. We do not have any problem there. Democratic protests are peoples' right. Our concern is that nobody gives any communal colour to that," the top cop said.

Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Hagrama Mohilary said that the BTAD administration will take appropriate steps for employment of the family member of Ahmed.

On Tuesday, two motorcycle borne assailants opened fire at Ahmed when he had gone to buy tiles at a shop in Titaguri market in Kokrajhar, killing him on the spot and seriously injuring the shopkeeper.

Earlier also Ahmed had been attacked by miscreants, following which the Assam Police had provided him with personal bodyguards. Unfortunately, they were not there during the last attack.

ABMSU demanded a CBI enquiry and immediate removal of the Kokrajhar SP, alleging that a nexus between the police and a cow smuggling racket had killed Ahmed.