Hunt on for AASU office attack accused, alert sounded in Assam

Assam Police has launched a massive hunt to nab the prime accused in the AASU office attack in Dhemaji and sounded an alert across the state today to prevent any outbreak of violence.
It has also announced a cash reward of Rs one lakh for information on the whereabouts of Subodh Biswas, the all-India president of the Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanway Samiti (NBUSS), and set up a special investigation team to probe the incident.
"The arrest of Biswas is our priority. Look-out notices have been circulated at all the important points. We have announced a reward of Rs one lakh for information on his whereabouts," Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters here.

He said Assam Police was in touch with other states and inter-state security agencies to trace Biswas whose "provocative" speech at an NBBUSS meeting at Silapathar on March 6 had allegedly led to the attack on the AASU office.
"We are in touch with the police agencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal and hope to nab him at the earliest," he added.
The attackers had ransacked the All Assam Students' Union office, damaged the furniture there and injured three members of the students' union.

Protests by various organisations erupted in the state following the incident.
The DGP also appealed to those aware of the whereabouts of Biswas to contact the police and assured them that they will be rewarded Rs one lakh without their identity being disclosed.

He said the alert has been sounded as the police are determined to prevent any incident of violence following the attack on the AASU office. "If required, we will do it ruthlessly," he added.
The situation, Sahay said, has been brought under control by senior officials camping at the site and by rushing additional security reinforcements.
Fourteen companies of Assam Police Battalion, along with 80 additional constables, have been deployed in Silapathar, while some companies of paramilitary forces have been shifted from Jorhat and North Lakhimpur to Silapathar.
Sahay said deputy commissioners have been directed to
cancel all the NBBUSS meetings and rallies scheduled to be held in their respective districts.

"Deputy commissioners of all the districts have been directed to ensure that no untoward incident takes place and if required, additional security reinforcements will be rushed if a tense situation prevails at any place," the DGP said.
The special investigation team (SIT), which will probe the attack, is being led by CID Senior Superintendent of Police Raja Martandan and anyone found guilty will be firmly dealt with as per law, Sahay said.
"We will ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into all the aspects of the incident, particularly the antecedents of the organisation that held the meeting at Silapathar, which led to the violence," he added.

The DGP said protests against such an incident were "natural", but the situation was being "monitored closely".
A few stray incidents of violence have been reported from some places, but these were immediately brought under control, Sahay said and appealed to the people to maintain calm and not give credence to rumour mongering.
"I thank the people for not being swayed by provocation. Individuals as well as organisations, irrespective of their linguistic, religious and political affiliations, have condemned the incident," he added.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already announced an inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary V B Pyarelal and directed him to submit the report within a month.

NBBUSS members and supporters had, on March 6, organised a meeting at Silapathar demanding Indian citizenship for Hindu migrants from Bangladesh.