Nagaon turns into battleground of minority politics in Asom

Guwahati, June 10 (UNI) Asom's Nagaon district today turned into a war zone of minority politics for the ruling Congress and the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), as they fought a pitched battle throughout the day.

Clashes erupted between the supporters of the two parties as AUDF workers converged towards Nagaon town in response to a 'Samguri Chalo' call by its chief Badaruddin Ajmal.

AUDF president Ajmal and one of his MLAs Mobarak Ali were kept under preventive custody in Rupahighat since morning, while two other MLAs of the party Sirajuddin Ajmal and Aditya Langthasa were detained at Kathiatoli later.

Another AUDF legislator Rasul Haq (Bahadur) was attacked allegedly by Congress supporters near the Nagaon circuit house, though he escaped unhurt. The All India Jamiat leader Syed Asad Madani was also picked up by the police.

Congress workers are also alleged to have damaged vehicles of AUDF supporters, who had converged on the outskirts of Nagaon town.

Several people were also injured in the clashes.

The Superintendent of Police Krishna Das informed that situation had been brought under control as police quickly swung into action and detained AUDF leaders to avert any major clash.

The Samguri constituency is represented by state Minister Rockybull Hussain and he has been engaged in a personal battle with Mr Ajmal to emerge as the undisputed leader of the Muslims.

''We wanted to converge peacefully. We are not Congress. We do not believe in violence. They beat our MLAs at Samguri but we will give them flowers,'' said Mr Ajmal, as his supporters swarmed from neighbouring constituencies like Doboka, Hojai, Lumding and Neelbagan area.

AUDF working president HRA Choudhury informed that the party had submitted a memorandum to the President, demanding dismissal of Mr Hussain and suspension of the district DC and SP.

He alleged that the district administration was working on the orders of the Samguri MLA.

Mr Choudhury said Section 144 was in place only in Nagaon town but movement of people and vehicular traffic of the AUDF supporters were being restricted in other parts of the district as well.

There was tension in Doboka as the police stopped people from travelling to Nagaon. Police had to resort to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Similarly, hundreds of AUDF supporters were stopped at Tezpur as police tried to stop the AUDF supporters from converging at Nagaon.

UNI