GUWAHATI, March 9 - Assam Police has announced a cash award of Rs one-lakh for anyone who would provide vital clue or information about the whereabouts of Subodh Biswas, the prime accused in the March 6 Silapathar incident, even as the number of arrests made in this connection has gone up to 27.
Among these, Mangal Kishor Das, founder of the NIBBUS Dhemaji district committee, was arrested today, said Director General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay while talking to media persons today.
�Five to six persons are still on the run,� Sahay divulged.
Lookout notices for Subodh Biswas have been circulated at all important travel points, major airports and railway stations in the country.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Senior Superintendent of Police (CID) Dr N Rajamarthandan has also been constituted to investigate the matter and apart from reinforcement of police and paramilitary forces, the Army has also been kept on standby.
Sahay informed that the department is in close touch with its counterparts in several other States, including Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra, where the accused could be hiding.
�Nobody will be allowed to create problem or disturb the social fabric of the State. We appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony, and, at the same time, refrain from falling prey to any kind of rumour mongering,� Sahay said.
Special Director General of Police (law and order) Kula Saikia said that the antecedent of the group �Nikhil Bharat Udbastu Samannay Samity� is also being examined, including their works since its inception.
�We are trying to figure out whether the incident was pre-planned in nature or it just happened in the spur of the moment, besides the circumstances leading to the incident,� Saikia said, adding that the districts have been asked to follow a standard operational procedure before and after granting permission to host such events.
