Assam Dy Speaker quizzed, 5 policemen suspended for firing on crowd during second phase voting

SILCHAR: Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar has been quizzed twice and five police personnel attached to him have been suspended after they opened fire on public during second phase of polling,officials said Tuesday.

At least three persons were injured in the firing by the body guards of Laskar on April 1 after clashes broke out between supporters of BJP and AIUDF inside the polling station at 463 Madhya Dhanehori LP School of Sonai constituency.

Police sources said Laskar was interrogated twice for several hours during the last 48 hours and his statements have been recorded in front of a magistrate.

Sitting MLA Laskar is having a direct fight with Karim Uddin Barbhuiya of the AIUDF on Sonai seat.

When contacted, Cachar Superintendent of Police Bhanwar Lal Meena told PTI that all the nine police personnel attached to the deputy speaker have been removed from the duty with immediate effect in view of the ongoing probe.

"Out of them, five police personnel have been suspended in connection with the firing. Among them, three are the body guards of Laskar and two are the security personnel of the escort vehicle," Meena said.

Those suspended are Pervej Ahmed Laskar, Sajidur Rahman Laskar, Abidur Ahmed Barbhuiya, Altaf Hussain and Akram Hussain Laskar, he added.

Meena said another jawan Lakhikanta Mahato of the Indian Reserve Battalion of Jharkhand had also opened fire on the public during the incident.

"As he is not directly under Cachar Police, so we cannot take any action. We have taken appropriate steps to inform the matter to his department for necessary action," he added.

The SP said these persons were suspended on the allegation of entering inside the polling station without permission and firing on public without due order.

"Laskar can enter the polling station as a contesting candidate, but he cannot enter with the security personnel," he added.

Meanwhile, the Cachar district Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

According to the Dhanehori gaon panchayat president Lutfa Begum, public protested when Laskar entered in the polling booth while voting was going on during the second phase on April 1.

"People alleged that he has tried to rig the voting. Many people rushed to the spot and confined Laskar  in a room. This turned the situation tense. A clash broke out between supporters of Laskar and his opponent," she had said.

"When a big crowd gathered and they tried to manhandle Laskar, his PSOs fired. In this, at least three persons were injured and they were admitted to hospitals," Begum had claimed.

An estimated 79.39 per cent polling took place in Sonai, while the second phase of voting in Assam saw a turnout of 80.96 per cent.