THE election for the North Cachar Hills District Autonomous Council (NCHDAC) in Asom (Assam), which has been postponed indefinitely, had never witnessed such a gory incident. The pre poll violence snatched away the lives of the officiating head of the council, Purnendu Langthasa who was shot dead with another senior member of the autonomous council by the terrorists. The campaigning for the polls, initially scheduled on June 12, went on full swing and the Congress leader like Langthasa, also the chief executive member of NCHDAC was busy with the finishing touches for electioneering. But it turned out to be his last moments, when Langthasa and another executive member and a Congress candidate for the polls, Nindu Langthasa went to attend election rally at Longlei Hasnu locality on June 4 for the party candidates.
Both the leaders were initially scheduled to visit Dehangi near to Umrangsu town only for campaigning. Later they changed their plan to go to Longlei Hasnu. Both Purnendu and Nindu were later invited for a hidden meeting with some revolted Congressmen at the locality, under Umrangshu police station, which is around 70-km away from the council headquarter at Haflong. Both of them responded quickly to the call for the secret meeting and out of hurriedness they, it is believed, forgot to accompany their security officers. As Purnendu and Nindu entered into a prescribed hut sudden firing of bullets greeted them from a close range and both of them succumbed to injuries on the spot. Purnendu, who won from Mahur constituency in 2001 and become the chief executive member of the council, was seeking reelection from the same constituency.
Prominent Congress leader and also a NCHDAC member Ajit Boro was kidnapped by the Black Widow terrorists and later his mutilated body was found near Maibong. The worsening situation prompted the Asom Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh and the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to rush to the locality after condemning the incident. Political parties as well as social organisations also condemned the incident.
Later the government decided to postpone the polls and proposed to appoint the veteran Congress leader Govinda C. Langthasa as the caretaker chief executive member of the council. The former state minister and a present legislator Langthasa, incidentally the father of Purnendu Langthasa, will run the council till the next election takes place in the hills district. Once an authoritative leader G.C. Langthasa had earlier lost another son (Narmendu in 2003 to the bullets of Hmar People'sConference Democratic) in a mysterious situation.
It is, however, for the first time in the history of Asom, where a council election had to be postponed due to the deteriorated law and order situation.
Prominent Congress leader and also a NCHDAC member Ajit Boro was kidnapped by the Black Widow terrorists and later his mutilated body was found near Maibong. The worsening situation prompted the Asom Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh and the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to rush to the locality after condemning the incident. Political parties as well as social organisations also condemned the incident.
