Ruling BPF MLA arrested for Assam violence

GUWAHATI: An MLA of Bodoland Peoples Front ( BPF), which is an ally of the ruling Congress in Assam, was arrested in the wee hours today for his alleged involvement in the recent violence in the state.

Pradeep Brahma, alias Gara, who represents Kokrajhar (West) constituency, was arrested from his house at Dotoma near Kokrajhar town at about 1 AM as seven cases had already been registered against him in several police stations.

BPF is the ruling party of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) whose chief is Hagrama Mohilary.

Following the arrest and yesterday's violence in neighbouring Dhubri district in which two persons were killed, indefinite curfew was clamped in Kokrajhar district.

Army staged flag march even as Brahma's supporters started picketing on the railway track and national highway 31.

More than 80 persons have lost their lives and four lakh were rendered homeless in the violence in lower Assam districts of Korajhar, Dhubri and Chirang.