GUWAHATI, April 6 - Forty two (eight per cent) candidates, who will be contesting in the second phase of the Assembly elections, have declared criminal cases against themselves. This has been revealed by the Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The Assam Election Watch and ADR analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 523 candidates out of 525 candidates who are contesting in the second phase of the Assembly elections and found that 32 (six per cent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women, etc.
According to the report of the organisations, two candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Sections 302 and 303). They are Ananta Kumar Malo of the AIUDF contesting from Abhayapuri South constituency and Abul Kalam Rasheed Alam of the INC contesting from Goalpara East constituency.
�Two candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section 307). They are Amrit Badsha of the INC from Bilasipara East constituency and Ujjal Deb, an Independent candidate contesting from Lumding constituency,� informed Tasaduk Ariful Hussain, revealing that two candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. They are Abdul Samad Choudhury of the AIUDF contesting from Rangiya constituency and Javed Hussain Tanwar of the National Road Map Party of India contesting from Guwahati West constituency. Both the candidates have declared charges related to assault or criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of women (IPC Section 354).
On the other hand, two candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping or abduction registered against them under IPC Section 365. They are Abdur Rahim Khan of the AIUDF from Barpeta constituency and A Rahim Ahmed of the INC from Barpeta constituency.
Party-wise, five (nine per cent) out of 57 candidates from the INC, five (fourteen per cent) out of 35 candidates from the BJP, ten (21 per cent) out of 47 candidates from the AIUDF, one (11 per cent) out of nine candidates fielded by the CPI(M), one (20 per cent) out of five candidates from the Samajwadi Party and 17 (eight per cent) out of 216 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
