GUWAHATI: As the raging protests against manhandling of a member of the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) by a group of traders last week in Nagaon town of Central Assam is threatening to acquire communal dimension, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday appealed to the people of all communities living in Assam to maintain peace and harmony and not to fall prey to design of vested quarters’ attempt to disrupt the harmonious social fabric in the state.
A surrendered ULFA member or SULFA, Moon Baruah was beaten up by the owner of a tractor dealership, Abhishek Roy alias Mithu, a BJP leader in Nagaon who is known for his close ties with Union minister of state for Railways and the MP from Nagaon Rajen Gohain, and his associates before lodging a complaint of extortion with police against the SULFA man who was arrested by police immediately.
However, once the video of manhandling of the SULFA man went viral in the social media, protests raged in the state against the episode of beating up of a local Assamese youth (the SULFA man) by some non-Assamese persons (Abhishek Roy and his friends). Even the fugitive commander in chief of the anti-talks faction of the ULFA (Independent), Paresh Barua too issued statement warning dire consequences against atrocities meted out to indigenous people in the state.
The incident triggered sharp protests by the pro-talks faction of the ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, which even threatened to resorted to an armed rebellion anew if such atrocities was committed against its member. The influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) too has lent its voice to the protest.
The raging protests forced the police to arrested Abhishek Roy and four of his accomplices while the SULFA man who was arrested on charges of extortion was released by the court on Saturday. Meanwhile, Assam BJP leadership has suspended Abhishek Roy from the post of Nagao district unit general secretary.
Nagaon Superintendent of Police (SP), Deboraj Upadhyay said that though complaint of extortion was lodged against the SULFA man, no such evidence was found on examination of the CCTV footage.
Terming the reported skirmish that took place in Nagaon, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today expressed deep dissatisfaction over the attempt of a section of the people to add communal color to it.
“I am deeply saddened by the recent untoward incident that took place in Nagaon and I appeal to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony in face of provocation. We must stay united and thwart all evil designs of divisive forces”, Sonowal exhorted.
Referring to the contribution of former Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University Ashutosh Mukherjee, who was the man behind the introduction of Assamese language in the university curriculum, Sonowal said that the foundation of Assamese literary movement took root in Kolkata through setting up of Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha under the pioneering leadership of Lakshminath Bezbaruah.
“How can we forget that one of the most revered figures of Assam Dr. Bhupen Hazarika is equally a household name in Bengal. Along with Assam and Mumbai, Kolkata was one of the places where the maestro created many of his greatest compositions”, Sonowal said adding that the contributions of Hemanga Biswas to Assamese art and culture are equally significant and inspiring for the Assamese society.