From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The CPI (ML) has called for 12-hour Assam bandh on Friday protesting murder of its leader Gongaram Koul at Panitola tea estate in Tinsukia district of Assam on Tuesday night by unidentified miscreants.
The party has also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident termed it a ‘political murder’ dismissing the offer from Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to institute a CID probe.
“The government will order a CID inquiry into the killing of Gangaram Kaul and perpetrators of the heinous crime will be punished accordingly,” an official statement said here on Wednesday.
The CPI (ML) has alleged hands of the local Congress MLA Raju Sahu behind the murder as the CPI (ML) leader had exposed corruption in various welfare schemes being implemented at local panchayat level. Nine other opposition parties in the state barring the BJP also termed it a ‘political murder’.
Koul, who is also associated with the Assam Sangrami Chah Shramik Sangha, was returning home from Panitola town on his motorcycle when unidentified assailants hacked him to death inside the tea estate late Tuesday night. Koul, who had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Lakhimpur as well as assembly election from Chabua LAC in 2006 and 2011, was running a campaign against corruption in public distribution system, which had apparently brought him into conflict with local leaders of the panchayat.
Because of the banner corruption raised by him authorities were forced to cancel license of at least sic fair price shops in the area.
A press communique issued by the chief minister’s office on Thursday night said chief minister Gogoi had expressed serious concern over Gongaram Koul’s murder and the government would order a CID inquiry.
Tinsukia police informed that local CPI (ML) committee has filed an FIR with the Panitola police station naming local MLA Raju Sahu and some other local Congress functionaries including a public distribution system license holder.
However, Congress MLA Raju Sahu has denied the allegation. “Koul was a good friend, and we were in the same unit of the same students’ organization several years ago. I also demand a CBI inquiry,” he said.
A delegation of 10 political parties on Thursday marched to Raj Bhavan demanding a CBI inquiry as also a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of the deceased.
The 44-year-old labour leader was found dead on a roadside at Gutibari village in Tinsukia district on March 25.
He was attacked with sharp weapons, police had said. Kaul had contested the Lok Sabha election from Dibrugarh constituency in 2009.
He had also contested the state assembly polls twice as CPI-ML Liberation candidate from Chabua constituency in 2006 and 2011. (Agencies)