The brutal rape and murder of a minor at Batadrava has created waves across the state recently raising questions of safety and security in Assam. At the same time, Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has tried to give a religious angle to the issue at the Assembly.

Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, at the assembly, listed out the names of the accused in recent incidents of rape across the state which included the names of Zakir Hussain, Mohammad Abdul Razzaq, Babul Ahmed, Sadek Ali and Karim Ali, who have already been arrested by the police.

Interestingly, Himanta Biswa Sarma had forced to list the names of the accused, who belonged to a particular community, when the Congress had demanded to adjourn the assembly. Patowary also alleged that the prime accused of the Batadrava incident, Zakir Hussain, is a Congress worker.

Reacting to the statements of the ministers, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam alleged that only a selected few incidents have been taken into account and the accused have been named. “There have been numerous incidents across the state where the accused are not of the community. Their names have not been mentioned” Islam added.

Retaliating to what Aminul Islam said, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if a catalogue is prepared on the names of the accused, they will have to hide in shame. Not only rape, most robberies and dacoities, vandalising of temples also have their involvement.

Leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia said that criminals can never be judged on the religious background they belong to. Aminul Islam said “The accused must be punished no matter which community they belong to. But one should never indulge in religious politics.”

Saikia also informed media persons that 29,223 incidents of violence against women have been reported in the past two years and demanded safety and security for the women of the state.

News Source Pratidin Time