Assam violence: CBI to probe cases against arrested Bodo MLA

NEW DELHI: All the cases, registered against the arrested Assam MLA Pradeep Brahma for his alleged role in the recent ethnic clashes, will shortly be handed over to the CBI, which is already probing seven other cases related to the violence.

"Both the Assam government and the Centre have taken the decision to hand over the cases involving Brahma to the CBI," said an official.

Referring to the ongoing probe, sources here said that some more persons, including a couple of local leaders, are likely to be arrested for their involvement in the clashes between Bodo tribals and Muslims that have claimed 80 lives.

Brahma, MLA of the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), which is an ally of the ruling Congress in Assam, has been named in seven cases after witnesses complained that he was leading the rioting mob holding an AK-47 rifle.

The BPF is the ruling party in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District. Brahma, who represents Kokrajhar (West) constituency, was arrested from his Dotoma residence near Kokrajhar town on Thursday.

The MLA was charged under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons, 149 (unlawful assembly), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 427 (causing damage), 379 (theft) and 506 (criminal intimidation).