Udalguri: The All BTC Minorities Students’ Union (ABMSU) on Tuesday staged protests across the five districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), demanding the arrest of the remaining accused in the 2017 murder of its former president, Lafiqul Islam Ahmed.
Demonstrations were held at Gossaigaon and Bhotgaon in Kokrajhar district, Dwarkuchi in Tamulpur district, Mushalpur in Baksa district, Rowta in Udalguri district and Kajalgaon in Chirang district.
Protesters carried placards and raised slogans, alleging that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to execute standing arrest warrants against three accused who remain absconding. The organisation also questioned the release of another accused on bail.
Addressing the protesters, ABMSU president Taison Hussain alleged that the murder was politically motivated and claimed that the slow pace of the investigation had raised concerns over the handling of the case. He urged the CBI to arrest the absconding accused and ensure that the trial proceeds without further delay.
Lafiqul Islam Ahmed was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Titaguri in Kokrajhar district on August 1, 2017. The case was later handed over to the CBI for investigation.
According to the CBI, its investigation found the involvement of Rupa Brahma alias Kejeng Brahma alias Ramesh Brahma, Dingkur Mushahary alias Dao and Bhadreswar Basumatary alias Bhadre in the murder, following which a chargesheet was filed before the competent court.
ABMSU said justice would remain incomplete until all the accused are brought before the court and warned of intensifying its democratic protests if there is no progress in executing the pending arrest warrants.