Tension in Assam’s Sribhumi after BJP booth president found dead

Tension gripped Assam’s Sribhumi district after the body of missing BJP booth president Bikash Ranjan Dhar was recovered near the Assam-Tripura border. Police detained six people, while protests, vandalism and arson followed. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders as investigations continued

Guwahati: Tension prevailed in Assam’s Sribhumi district after the body of a 52-year-old BJP booth president, who had been missing for nearly two days, was recovered near the Assam-Tripura border, police said on Saturday.

The deceased, identified as Bikash Ranjan Dhar of Chagalmowa village, had gone missing on August 12 after leaving home on his motorcycle. His family subsequently lodged a missing person complaint after failing to establish contact with him. Dhar’s body was recovered from an area near a pond at Jogichhara on Friday, following a police investigation that involved tracing his call records.

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Police have detained six people in connection with the case, including two alleged key accused aged 24 and 30. According to police, one of the detained suspects has allegedly confessed during questioning that Dhar was killed with a machete. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Trinayan Bhuyan said preliminary investigation suggested that the killing was linked to personal enmity.

Based on the complaint, we started tracing him and followed his call records, which led the investigators to the accused persons. Preliminary findings suggest that the murder was the result of personal enmity, a senior police officer said. The investigation took a dramatic turn when one of the accused allegedly attempted to escape from police custody and attacked a constable with a sharp object.

Police opened fire during the incident, injuring the accused in the left leg before overpowering him and taking him back into custody, Bhuyan said. The recovery of Dhar’s body triggered protests in Chagalmowa, Bazaricherra and adjoining areas, with incidents of vandalism and arson reported from several locations.

Police said shops were set ablaze during the unrest, following which the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent further escalation.

Authorities said the situation has since been brought under control, while the investigation into the murder and the circumstances leading to the violence is continuing. Police have not yet disclosed the identities of those detained and further details are awaited as the probe progresses.