Assam Polls 202: 37 of 345 Candidates in Phase 2 Have Criminal Records, One in the Fray has Rape Charges

The Supreme Court has in 2020, had directed all political parties to furnish all details of candidates with criminal record in newspapers and in social media and explain why such a candidate was picked
Assam Polls 202: 37 of 345 Candidates in Phase 2 Have Criminal Records, One in the Fray has Rape Charges

Guwahati: There are a total of 37 candidates in Phase II of Assam elections 2021 who have criminal record and cases pending against them. Nijam Uddin Choudhury, contesting from the Algapur seat on an AIUDF ticket has been booked for rape, Madhu Ram Deka (BJP), Diganta Kalita (BJP) and Gobinda Chandra Basumatary (a former NDFB leader) have murder charges against them. Sarsing Enleng, contesting as an Independent candidate from Baithalangso has booked on charges of kidnapping.

Here is the list of 10 names of the candidates and details of cases against them which fall in the serious category:

Siddeque Ahmed:

Siddeque Ahmed is contesting from Karimganj South and is contesting on a Congress ticket. He has a long history of criminal records. He has declared in his affidavit that he has been booked in 7 cases. He has 7 cases against him:

  1. Under Section 420: allegation of cheating
  2. Under Section 406: allegation of criminal breach of trust
  3. Under Section 409: allegation of criminal breach of trust by public servant or by banker etc,
  4. Under Section 403: allegation of dishonest misappropriation of moveable property
  5. Under Section 294: allegation of obscene language
  6. Under Section 506: allegation of criminal intimidation
  7. Under Section 34: allegation of common intention.
  8. He has been convicted in one case for causing harm to the reputation of complainant.

Humayun Kabir:

Humayun Kabir is a member of the newly formed party Assam Jatiya Parishad and is contesting from the Patharkandi seat, of Karimganj district. He is a first-time candidate and is booked in 6 cases.

Cases pending against him range from criminal intimidation (IPC Section 506) to breach of trust (3 cases under IPC Section 406), and charges related to cheating and dishonestly.

Aftab Uddin Laskar:

Aftab Uddin Laskar is an Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate and is contesting from the Algapur constituency. He is a businessman and is contesting for the first time. He has a total of 5 cases against him out. He has been booked under 8 IPC sections.

He has 3 charges related to cheating and dishonesty including delivery of property and is booked under IPC Section 420. He has also been booked under IPC Section 506 for criminal intimidation, IPC Section 408 related to criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant. There are other IPC charges on him as well and all the cases are pending till now.

Suresh Borah:

Suresh Borah is contesting from the Barhampur seat on a Congress (INC) ticket. He has a total of 4 pending cases against him. Of which he is booked in 2 cases for forgery and cheating under IPC 468.

Two other charges against him are related to criminal intimidation (IPC Section 506), he has 2 charges related to criminal conspiracy as well and is booked under IPC Section 120 B. He has been convicted in 1 case under Section 122 (A) of IPC.

Madhu Ram Deka:

Madhuram Deka is contesting from the Kaliagaon seat on a BJP ticket. He has a total of 3 cases against him. One is related to a murder charge.

He is booked under 7 PC sections, out of which one charge is related to punishment for theft (IPC Section 379) and one for robbery (IPC Section 392), he is also booked for voluntarily causing hurt under IPC Section 323.

Diganta Kalita:

Diganta Kalita of BJP has 3 pending cases against him. He is contesting from the Kamalpur seat and is booked under 22 IPC sections. He too has a murder case against him.

He has one charge related to mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house/property etc. There are 3 charges against him related to rioting, armed with deadly weapon.

Gobinda Chandra Basumatari:

Gobinda Chandra Basumatari is contesting from the Udalguri (ST) seat on an UPPL ticket. He is a former NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) leader. He is now the Deputy Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Council. He won the BTC polls from Bhairabkunda Constituency. He has 2 pending cases.

He has an attempt to murder charge against him under IPC Section 307 and punishment for murder under IPC Section 302. He is booked under 5 IPC sections including being booked for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon or means (IPC Section 326).

He has cases against him related to defamation (IPC Section 500), one case related to criminal conspiracy (IPC Section 120 B).

Sarsing Engleng:

Sarsing Engleng is an Independent candidate and is contesting from the Baithalangso (ST) seat. He is a first-time candidate.

He has been booked under Section 364 A of on charges of kidnapping for ransom, one charge is related to murder (IPC Section 302). He has not been convicted yet, and the case is pending.

Milon Das:

Milon Das is a BJP candidate contesting from the Hailakandi seat. He is the youngest candidate to get the party ticket from BJP this time.

He has been booked for 'assault or criminal force on women with intent to outrage her modesty' under IPC Section 354. He has one more serious charge on him related to punishment for criminal intimidation.

Nijam Uddin Choudhury:

Nijam Uddin Choudhury is contesting from the Algapur seat on an AIUDF ticket. He has one pending case. He has been booked on charges of rape.

In an order of 2020, the Supreme Court has made it mandatory for all political parties to publish details of criminal cases against their selected candidates. The political parties will have to publish details not just in local newspapers, but also on party websites and social media handles. The political parties will also have to explain why a candidate with criminal record has been selected.

Earlier in 2019, the Supreme Court had turned down a plea seeking a directive to the Election Commission to prevent political parties from giving tickets to candidates with criminal record.

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