Assembly election 2016: 30 candidates with criminal cases in fray

Guwahati: As many as 30 candidates with pending criminal cases, including two who have been charged with murder, are in the fray for the first phase of assembly polls in the state.
The latest report by Assam election watch (AEC), an NGO, revealed that of the 539 candidates in the fray for the first phase, 30 (6%) candidates have declared pending criminal cases in their respective affidavits enclosed during nominations.
"Out of them, 25 candidates have been charged with serious criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and even crimes against women. At least two among them have pending cases of murder. Two others have cases against them in which they were accused of involvement in crimes against woman and kidnapping," an AEC official said.
Serious criminal offences include charges for which maximum punishment is of five years or more.
BJP's Thowra seat candidate Kushal Dowari has been charged with murder and attempt to murder. Independent candidate Janardan Hazarika has also declared that he was charged of murder.
The report added, "There is one candidate in the first phase, Ibungobi Singha, an Independent from Sonai, who has declared he has pending charges related to assault or criminal force to woman with an intent to outrage her modesty."
Abdul Ahad Choudhury, an Independent from Karimganj (North) constituency, has been charged with kidnapping for ransom.
Going party-wise, the election watch report said Congress has fielded the highest numbers of candidates — eight — with criminal cases pending against them.
"At least eight out of 65 candidates from Congress, three out of 54 candidates from BJP, three out of 27 candidates from AIUDF, one out of 10 candidates fielded by CPM, one out of six candidates from CPI-ML(L) and 14 among 280 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases in their affidavits," the AEC official informed.
The election watch has also marked three constituencies going to the polls on April 4 — Karimganj (North), Sonai and Hailakandi — as ‘red alert constituencies'. Any constituency with three or more candidates with declared criminal cases contesting in the poll was identified as a ‘red alert constituency'.