The recovered flags. Northeast Now

Sensation prevails in Goalpara district on Wednesday morning as the news spread that six flags similar to that of notorious international terrorist group ‘ISIS’ found hoisting near the Kachari Ghat (Old Goalpara district court) area. The flags were both in Arabic and English languages and there was the inscription – ‘IS NE’.

Several people who went for morning walk noticed the flags and informed it to the police who immediately arrived at the scene and removed the flags.

Also read: 6 black flags with IS NE written on it hoisted in Goalpara

The area is just 20 metre away from the Goalpara Town Police Outpost and at the bank of river Brahmaputra which connects to the various riverine villages or char of Goalpara, Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts.

A local youth, who saw the flags said, “I saw the flags and doubted to be a criminal work and informed the police. Several other people, who came for morning walk and other purposes, also noticed it.”

Meanwhile, Amitava Sinha, Superintendent of Police, Goalpara remarked before the media, “An investigation is under way, however, at first look it seems to be a work of some anti-social elements.”

On the other hand, several organisations like All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU), Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), Goria Moria Deshi Jatiya Parishad (GMDJP) and political parties like Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Congress have sharply reacted to the incident and appealed to the people to maintain peace in the society.

AASU General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi has also reportedly criticised the government for its inaction in curbing the growing fundamentalist activities in Assam and demanded immediate measures to foil any design to create unrest in the State.

The Secretary of Goalpara District Committee of AASU, Jitumoni Bhuyan has demanded high-level inquiry into the incident. He questioned the responsibility of the police and asked how within such short distance from a police station the incident happened.

Advocate Jiten Das, District President of AGP vehemently criticised the incident and remarked that some vested interests have done it to disturb the relationship between different communities.

Nani Das, a veteran social worker and a leftist leader, also termed it as a conspiracy to breach the religious harmony.

It may be mentioned that a three-day State level Islamic religious convention or Ijtema will begin in the town from Thursday. Moreover, the Tuesday night was a special Islamic religious night ‘Sob-e-borat’ when Namaj is performed throughout the night.

Sofikul Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in Goalpara. He can be reached at: [email protected]

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