DIBRUGARH, Sept 12 - A partial shutdown was observed particularly at New Market, Loharpatty, Marwaripatty and Paanchali areas here today following the arrest of Javed Akhtar Khan alias Azad Khan, a well known local Muslim leader and a veteran Congressman, in connection with the vandalism perpetrated during the Muharram procession held on Tuesday.
Azad Khan, a popular social worker, is the president of Diamond Sporting Club and Dibrugarh Idgah Committee. He is also the general secretary of Boga Baba Majhar and the Dibrugarh District Congress Committee.
Minutes after Dibrugarh Superintendent of Police Subhashini Sankaran briefed the media about the arrest of Azad Khan, a section of the Muslim community, his sympathisers and well wishers reacted spontaneously by forcing shut down in some areas and staging mass demonstration in front of the police station. They demanded his unconditional release, claiming that Azad was not involved in the vandalism.
The situation became so volatile that Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha and Dibrugarh SP Subhashini Sankaran had to rush to the police station to take stock of the situation. The Deputy Commissioner later told newsmen that the vandalism was unfortunate and all those involved in the incident would be arrested.
Police was investigating the case and more would be arrested soon, he said. Sankaran also said the police officers deputed at the vandalism sites would also be taken to task if found guilty of negligence.
In the incident, two private vehicles bearing registration numbers AS 06 P 9849 and AS 06 K 7736 were damaged during the Muharram procession. One Fulkan Hussain was arrested yesterday in connection with the vandalism case.
A case has been registered with the Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station. The police produced Fulkan Hussain and Azad Khan in the CJM court today but the court granted bail to both of the accused.
