Guwahati, April 28, 2026: Akhil Gogoi, Raijor Dal chief, has issued a strongly worded open letter to Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of misleading the people of Assam and raising serious allegations related to the controversial era of “secret killings” in the state.
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| Raijor Dal Chief Akhil Gogoi. (File Photo) |
In the letter dated April 28, Gogoi questioned the decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party to field Jayanta Hazarika, also known as Kushal Duwari, as a candidate from the Sivasagar Assembly constituency in the upcoming elections.
Gogoi also criticised remarks made by the Chief Minister during the election campaign, where Sarma allegedly referred to him as “Chitragupta.” The Raijor Dal leader described the comment as disturbing and politically motivated.
Recalling the violent phase of the 1990s and early 2000s in Assam, Gogoi referred to the period of alleged “secret killings,” which he said left deep scars on the state’s society and created widespread fear among residents.
In the letter, Gogoi alleged that, according to past reports, local accounts and findings of the K.N. Saikia Commission of Enquiry, Jayanta Hazarika was involved in numerous murder cases in Sivasagar during that period, claiming the figure could be as high as 68.
He cited several incidents from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including killings in Mahmora, Nitai Pukhuri and other parts of Sivasagar district, which he said reflected the brutality associated with that period.
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Gogoi questioned the moral basis of granting a party ticket to a person allegedly linked to such cases and warned that such decisions could undermine democratic values. He also stated that raising these concerns might even put him at personal risk but insisted he would continue to speak out against what he described as injustice.
The letter concludes with Gogoi urging the Chief Minister to reflect on the decision and its implications for the democratic system, stating that fielding such a candidate could degrade democratic institutions.
The development is expected to intensify political tensions in Assam, particularly in Upper Assam constituencies where memories of the “secret killings” period remain sensitive and politically significant.
