Guwahati: Rantu Paniphukan, the chief of Veer Lachit Sena, was arrested on Monday afternoon by Assam Police while he was speaking at a press conference at Hotel Apollo Grand in Guwahati. The unexpected arrest during the media briefing caused immediate shock and protests from his supporters present at the event. This incident has occurred amidst a significant controversy linking some individuals associated with Veer Lachit Sena to a recent high-profile kidnapping and extortion case.
Before his arrest, Paniphukan made a defiant statement, addressing recent political developments and comments made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He responded to the Chief Minister’s remarks, which implied connections between certain individuals and his organization, stating, “The Chief Minister commented on the basis of one incident. After that incident, he passed sweeping remarks. The people who were arrested yesterday — they were expelled from our organisation long back. The remarks made against us are a blessing in disguise — a message to us.” He also countered claims that his group operates as the BJP’s B-team, asserting, “Many have called us the BJP’s B-team. But anyone watching the current situation knows the truth.”
Additionally, Paniphukan addressed the controversy surrounding “Bikash Asom,” a name that has been prevalent in recent media discussions. He clarified, “The name of Bikash is being talked about across Assam. People ask why we haven’t taken action. Let me be clear — we function according to the Constitution. Action has to follow procedure. If someone makes loose comments on YouTube, that is their personal opinion, not the official stand of Veer Lachit Sena.” He revealed that the organization has initiated an internal investigation, stating, “We have formed an inquiry committee. Every financial transaction, every funding source — all of it will be investigated. There will be complete scrutiny.”
Paniphukan’s arrest came after Dispur Police apprehended eight individuals late Sunday night for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping case. These individuals are reportedly linked to the Veer Lachit Sena. The matter came to light around 9:30 PM when Ershad Khan from Goalpara lodged a complaint that his friend Rahul Mishra had been abducted by a group of 10 to 15 unknown assailants outside Pratikshya Hospital in Borbari. The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of Rs 15 to 20 lakh for Mishra’s release.
In response, Dispur Police initiated a search operation, tracking the kidnappers to Tribeni Path, where the victim was successfully rescued from two vehicles. Six suspects were arrested at the site, with two more caught later that night. Those arrested have been identified as Biswajit Doley, Injamul Huque, Rohan Ali, Mohan Borah, Nitu Ahmed, Chinmay Dev, Riyaj Ahmed, and Biraj Ballav Kalita, with charges including kidnapping, extortion, criminal intimidation, and unlawful activities.
During the search, police found various suspicious items in the vehicles that may indicate the operation of an extortion network. Among the recovered items were two baseball bats, a hockey stick, a double-edged knife, two pepper spray bottles, six mobile phones, and an unspecified artificial object. Furthermore, police seized materials linking the operation to Veer Lachit Sena, including five letters seeking “financial assistance” supposedly signed by Bikash Asom, a receipt book for collecting money, two identity cards, and an organizational logo.
Ongoing investigations aim to trace the remaining suspects and explore the full extent of the alleged organizational connections to the crime.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/uncategorized/assam-veer-lachit-sena-leader-rantu-paniphukan-arrested-mid-press-conference-in-guwahati.html
Category: Uncategorized
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-10-27 20:48:00
