The business fraternity in Dibrugarh observed bandh on Wednesday in protest against the killing of Om Prakash Agarwalla by unidentified miscreants on Tuesday evening.
All the shops in Dibrugarh town remained closed for 12 hours on Wednesday.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The traders demanded that the culprits involved in the killing be immediately arrested and family of the victim be adequately compensated and government jobs be provided to both the daughters of the victim.
On Tuesday evening, 53-year-old Om Prakash Agarwalla, an employee of Shree Vinayak Flour Mills at Dibrugarh, was shot dead by two bikers at Graham Bazar area near Dibrugarh Eidgah Maidan.
Also read: Assam: One shot dead in Dibrugarh
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Agarwalla was shot dead as he was returning home by his motorcycle (AS-06 K-4172).
The incident in the Assam chief minister’s hometown has sent shock waves among the residents.
Later the post-mortem report revealed that the victim sustained two bullet injuries on his stomach apart from being attacked on the face by a dagger like weapon.
Police have found a video footage of two suspects riding an Enfield motorcycle which was caught in a CCTV camera installed outside a beauty parlour.
A gang of dacoits’ involvement has been suspected in the crime.
In the CCTV clips, a vehicle was seen closely following the victim’s motorcycle leading to suspicion that the gang may have more members.
It is suspected to be a well-planned attack as the victim used to collect payments from the retailers and carry it home.
After carrying out the attack, the killers reportedly fled away with the payments collected by the victim.
Although it is not yet known how much cash was available in the victim’s bag, sources said he was carrying cash collection of over Rs 2 lakh.
According to flour mill owner Rajesh Beriwal, Agarwalla used to collect payment from parties while going home and deposit the amount at his office the next day.
Dibrugarh superintendent of police (SP) Gautam Borah said, “We suspect that a gang of dacoits was involved in the attack.”
“It seems the victim was followed to his home. We are examining the CCTV footage though it is not very distinct. We have recovered a blank cartridge of a .32 pistol which was used in the attack. The killers will be nabbed soon.”
Dibrugarh MLA Prashanta Phukan on Wednesday morning visited the victim’s residence and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh from the state government to the family.
Agarwalla is survived by his wife and three daughters two of whom are unmarried.
Eastern Assam Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Citizens of Dibrugarh, Hindu Kranti Dal, Assam submitted separate memorandums to Dibrugarh deputy commissioner and the SP with copy marked to the Assam chief minister demanding immediate arrest of the culprits behind the murder.
They also demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh and government jobs for the unmarried daughters of the deceased.
The deputy commissioner said he has taken up the matter of installing CCTV cameras in the town on priority basis.
Most likely, within a couple of months, the installation will be done, he said.
Dibrugarh SP Borah said, “Five people have been picked up by police for interrogation based on important leads and information related to yesterday’s murder. The police are working day and night to nab the culprits.”