President of the All Bodo Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) Lafikul Islam Ahmed was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Kokrajhar town of Assam on Tuesday, police said.
Two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire from an AK-47 rifle at the popular minority leader near a shop where he had gone to buy tiles in Titaguri Market. He died on the spot and the shopkeeper was seriously injured, Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.
Police recovered three empty AK-47 cartridges from the spot.
Soon after the killing, protesters took to the streets. A volatile situation was reported from some places along the National Highway 31.
The ABMSU has called an indefinite bandh in protest against the killing and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Security in all the districts of Lower Assam have been intensified.
“Investigation is on to nab the culprits. I have already asked one IG to rush to the spot and sent reinforcement to maintain peace and order,” Director-General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay told PTI in Kokrajhar. Mr. Sahay said he would also visit the spot.
Mr. Ahmed was very popular among minorities in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts and a strong voice of the youth from the community. He was attacked by some miscreants earlier also, after which police had provided him with personal bodyguards.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condemned the incident and asked the DGP to review the prevailing situation. A massive hunt has been launched to nab the killers and further investigation was on, the police said.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora demanded a high level inquiry into the incident. “The Assam government must show its courage and sincerity by apprehending the culprits immediately and we demand the government to ensure security of the life and property of the people,” he wrote on Facebook.
CPI(M) secretary Deben Bhattacharya demanded a proper inquiry and strict vigil by law enforcing agencies to maintain peace in the State.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti president Akhil Gogoi termed it a political killing. He said there were “deep conspiracies behind this to destabilise the region and incite communal clash”.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) secretary Haidor Hussain Bora said the culprits should get the maximum punishment for killing the very popular youth leader.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti, the Char-Chapori Sahitya Parishad and many other organisations too condemned the killing and demanded a speedy investigation.
