Assam Panchayt Polls: AGP leader shot dead before first phase polling

Day before the polling of first phase of Assam Panchayat polls an AGP leader Hafiz was shot dead on Monday night in Bongaigaon.

Guwahati 

Day before the polling of first phase of Assam Panchayat polls an AGP leader was shot dead on Monday night by an unidentified person in Bongaigaon district of Assam. However in Bongaigaon the panchayt polls will be held in second phase

Hafiz,  was a popular AGP leader in the Bhandara gaon panchayat area, went to a relative’s house in Golapara, around 12km from his residence at No. 6 Jamdoha. After having dinner at the relative’s house, Hafiz reached Gonobinna, nearly 1km from Golapara, to enjoy Kabigaan, a cultural nite, at 8pm. While the programme was on, Hafiz left the venue to relieve himself when a miscreant shot him dead and fled under cover of darkness.

Local people found Hafiz’s body with a bullet mark on his forehead and informed the police outpost at Gerukabari on National Highway 31 which is around 16km from the spot.

“Hafiz held the post of an elected member of the AGP under Bhandara gaon panchayat for the last 10 years. This time, however, he was not contesting.

According to locals Hafiz’s murder will politically benefit AGP candidate Baset Ali, 35, his cousin, as the party could win from Bhandara riding a sympathy wave.

Meanwhile police  arrested one Dilwar Ali, 38, a resident of Bhandara and a murder suspect. Some more accused, who are absconding, will be booked soon,” police said.