ASSAM DY SPEAKER QUIZZED, 5 COPS SUSPENDED FOR OPENING FIRE DURING POLLING

SILCHAR (ASSAM): 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 officials 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.

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.”

AT LEAST 3 WERE INJURED IN THE FIRING BY THE BODY GUARDS OF ASSAM DEPUTY SPEAKER ON APR 1