15% of Phase-III candidates in Assam with criminal record

Guwahati, April 20, 2019:

“Politics and crime, they are the same thing.” – Michael Corleone

Assam is gearing for its last phase of election which will be held on 20 April and 54 candidates are in the fray from the last 4 Constituencies – Guwahati, Dhubri, Barpeta, and Kokrajhar.

Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has released a list of the analysis of criminal background of candidates for the final four Constituencies of Assam.

The report reveals that out of 54 candidates analyzed, eight candidates (15%) have criminal cases against them. Of those, 6 (11%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

One candidate from the Congress, one from the AITC, one from the RPI (A), one from the AGP, two from the AIUDF, and two Independent candidates have cases registered against them.

Kokrajhar MP Naba Sarania (alias Hira Sarania) rules the roost when it comes to criminal cases as he has five cases registered against him including 3 charges related to murder (IPC Section-302) and 2 charges related to kidnapping or abducting in order to murder (IPC Section-364).

AIUDF Chief Badruddin has seven cases registered against him, including 6 serious IPCs including 2 charges related to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. , and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A).

Another AIUDF candidate Rafiqul Islam too has two cases registered against him, including two serious IPCs.

Independent candidate Uttam Kr. Ray, AITC’s Manoj Sharma, Congress’ Abu Taher Bepari, RPI (a) candidate Sadek Ali and Kumar Deepak Das are the other candidates with cases registered against them.

It may be mentioned that the Election Commission has directed candidates with criminal cases to ‘advertise’ their cases in front of the media.