GUWAHATI: The murder of a city-based trader – Hemant Chausari – in Hatigaon’s Kailash Nagar area on Wednesday evening by unidentified assailants caused an uproar in the state assembly on Thursday, with members of the opposition staging a walkout in protest against not being allowed to discuss the matter. Many establishments remained shut in the area where the crime occurred, with shopkeepers criticizing police for not being able to provide security to the city’s business community.

On Wednesday evening, four motorcycle-borne assailants shot Chousaria from close range while he was returning home after closing his shop. Though he was rushed to nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Police later recovered an empty 9mm pistol cartridge from the spot.

Debabrata Saikia, the leader of the opposition, told TOI, “We demanded the speaker adjourn the house and discuss the law and order situation of the state in the house. But our demands remained unaddressed and in protest we walked out.”

Saikia said there have been many such unsolved crimes in the area since the BJP-led government came to power here. “A few days ago, another trader Shantilal Jain was shot on a busy road at Bijoynagar. In several instances prior to this, unknown gunmen have killed at least 11 people in similar incidents. Even minority leader Rafikul Islam was killed in broad daylight by unknown assailants last year. This clearly indicates the lawlessness in the state,” the leader of the opposition said.

Akhilesh Deka, a trader from Hatigaon, said, “In the current situation, there is no security and safety of normal citizens. If someone can get shot on a busy city road located a few hundred metres away from the police station, then anyone can guess the situation. Criminals have taken over the city and police have failed to do their job.”

Many in the area said criminal activities have rocketed recently because of poor street lighting and a lack of police presence. Meanwhile, city police have detained five persons believed to be working at Chausari’s shop for questioning.

Pranjal Baruah | TNN