Expelled Congress member main suspect: Nagaon SP

Guwahati: Assam Police have identified the main suspect behind the attack on Congress leaders who were out campaigning for panchayat elections in Assam's Nagaon district on Sunday.

Nagaon SP Swapnaneel Deka on Monday said expelled Congress member Imdadul Islam is the main suspect behind orchestrating the attack.

"During investigation, we found that Imdadul Islam, hailing from Morigaon district, and who had been expelled from the party two days ago, was accompanied by a few men who arrived from Lahorighat and Burhagaon areas. Islam is our main suspect, and we are still continuing our investigations, as our teams are operating in both Assam's Morigaon and Nagaon districts, and very soon we will catch the miscreants," the officer said.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing the media, said he has instructed the Nagaon police to immediately arrest the person responsible for the incident, and that the other miscreants involved have also been identified. "I have been informed that the individual was promised a ticket to contest the zilla parishad elections but was not given one, which led to the incident. However, we will have the complete details after the investigation is concluded," he added.

Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi said, "If the police have identified the perpetrator, it is a good thing, as individuals who engage in such behaviour have no place in the party, which is why he has been expelled. I trust the police will conduct their investigation judiciously and bring the miscreants to justice."

Assam cops have launched a full-fledged probe, as the team conducted a raid at the house of Lahorighat MLA Asif Nazar in search of traces related to Islam.