Rebels gun down NC Hills CEM, cousin
Haflong, Jun 4 (UNI) The chief executive member(CEM) of North Cachar Hills District Council and his cousin were killed in an ambush by suspected rebels of the DHD(Jewel Garlosa group) today.
Official sources said the militants laid an ambush near Longrai Basti near Umrangso police station at 1330 hours while the CEM and his convoy were on their way from Haflong to receive Cabinet minister Kharsing Engti at Doyangmukh.
CEM Purnendu Langthasa and his cousin were killed on the spot, while two of the CEM's PSOs were critically injured.
Purnendu Langthasa was the eldest son of former Asom cabinet minister and senior Congress leader Gobinda Chandra Langthasa.
Another executive member of the NC Hills autonomous district council, who was also in the same vehicle, escaped unhurt.
This is one of the major killings of a political leader in Asom in recent times, even as the district autonomous council elections of NC Hills were slated for June 12 next.
The CEM was a candidate for the ensuing council elections.
Police suspect hand of DHD(J) operational in the ambush.
Significantly, Jewel Garlosa's brother, the boss of the anti-talks faction of the militant outfit DHD, was to contest the NC Hills council elections on Congress ticket.
Meanwhile, the entire Haflong town, the district headquarters, shut down after the incident, while the police have launched a major combing operation to track down the militants.
Two years back, the CEM's younger brother Niharendra Langthasa was also killed at Haflong by suspected militants of the same outfit.
UNI