One more Cong leader killed in Assam

The fate of the forthcoming election to North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council hangs in the balance in view of the attacks of Congress leaders and party candidates by 'Black Widow' militant groups.

Poluice recovered the body of another senior Congress leader few hours after the ultras had shot dead two senior Congress leaders Purnendu Langhthasa and Nindo Langthasa at Langlaibasti under Umrangshu police station of the hill district on Monday.

Purnendu was the chief executive member and Nindu was an executive member of the just dissolved NCHADC.

Police recovered body of third Congress leader Ajit Bodo,  deputy chairman of the now dissolved district council, from Maibong about 35 kilometre away from the district headquarter town at Haflong that took the death toll of Congressmen to three.

Ajit Bodo was abducted by suspected militants from Black Widow group led by Jewel Garlosa. The Black Widow is opposed to the peace process involving the rival Dima Halam Daogah and the Central government.

Assam Governor Ajai Kumar Singh and chief minister Tarun Gogoi rushed to the headquarter of the violence-hit hill district on Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation.

They held a security review meeting with the state police chief R N Mathur and the Army, along with senior district administration officials. They also visited the bereaved families of Purnendu and Nindo at Haflong.

According to a source in Haflong, the emergency meeting of the state cabinet scheduled for Tuesday evening is going to take a decision to postpone the June 12 election to the NCHADC in view of the escalating violence in the district that has been gripped by tension.

The killing of the three top leaders of the district within a span of 48 hours has created a panic among the Congress workers in the district.

Sparsely populated NC Hills, though one of the bigger districts (4980 sq km) is manned by only four police stations at Haflong, Maibong, Umrangso and Mahur. 

The district is being manned by 20 companies of police and paramilitary force personnel.