KARIMGANJ: At least 23 houses and three road-side restaurants were set ablaze by an angry mob demanding rescue of a kidnapped college boy and two others in Assam’s Karimganj district, official sources said on Friday. There was no report of any injury or casualty, the sources said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C have been imposed in the area. A 5000-strong mob set the house of suspected kidnapper Salimuddin afire at Bhanga between Badarpur and Karimganj town last evening, official sources said. The mob then torched 22 other neighbouring houses, three dhabas (road-side eateries) and a wine shop, the sources said. The arsonists were accusing the district administration of failing to maintain law and order leading to kidnapping of three persons in the last one week in Karimganj.
The mob was also angry over the alleged failure and negligence of the administration to take action against rampant sale of both country and India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and gambling leading to break down of law and order and increase in crimes, the sources said.
Karimganj College B.A. third year student Aharar Ahmed was kidnapped five days ago from Karimganj but he was yet to be traced due to police inaction, people said. Demanding immediate rescue of the three abducted, a bandh was also called by the local people today between Badarpur and Karimganj affecting normal life. District Deputy Commissioner Jatin Borgiary told PTI that there was no breakdown of law and order in the district and that the situation was under control. (PTI)