GUWAHATI, Dec 8 - Police have arrested Fakaruddin Ali and Paban Ali � both health department employees � for allegedly conspiring to �kill� Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in his own constituency.
The arrests were made on December 5 and after the expiry of their three-day police remand today, the arrested duo were produced before the court which remanded them to judicial custody.
A case has been registered in this connection at the Hajo Police Station under sections 120 B, 507, 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, informed Additional Superintendent of Police (Kamrup) Nabaneet Mahanta while talking to this reporter.
The State Finance Minister is currently provided Z-category security cover.
Both Fakaruddin Ali and Paban Ali are Grade IV employee of the health department and residents of Hajo.
Police have also seized a cell phone from the accused and preliminary investigation has revealed that SMSes were reportedly sent from that particular cell phone to four different mobile numbers which reportedly are registered in the name of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his former Cabinet colleagues including Rakibul Hussain and Ripun Bora. The other mobile number is registered with local (Hajo) Congress leader Dulu Ahmed.
Congress party sources, meanwhile, said that immediately after receipt of the SMSes, the matter was intimated to the Director General of Police for necessary action.
�There is also a mention of money amounting to Rs 5 crore in the texts sent from the cell phone of the arrested accused,� the sources said. The police have so far not found links with any extremist group�in the case.
