Editor
Arrests Mount as Police Investigate Recruitment Irregularities
Guwahati, Assam: The tragic suicide of Indrani Tahbildar, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, has sent shockwaves throughout the state. What initially appeared as a personal tragedy has now evolved into a far-reaching "cash-for-job-scam" scandal, implicating at least five individuals closely associated with the party in a web of recruitment irregularities.
Tahbildar's life took a devastating turn on August 11 when her intimate photos with another BJP member circulated widely on social media, leading her to consume a fatal overdose of sleeping pills. Subsequently, investigations into her death have unveiled a complex web of corruption within the state government.
Guwahati Police, in their relentless pursuit of justice, have apprehended five individuals thus far, refusing to disclose further details as the investigation remains ongoing. These arrests include Tahbildar's alleged accomplice and former BJP Kisan Morcha joint office secretary, Trishna Sharma, who was expelled from the party in the wake of the scandal.
Prior to this, police had already arrested Anurag Chaliha, Diban Deka, Rekhanta Das, and Ashim Chakraborty in connection with Tahbildar's suicide. Notably, Deka, a former national executive member of the BJP Kisan Morcha, had been arrested in 2020 for his suspected involvement in the Assam Police recruitment exam paper leak scandal, leading to his expulsion from the party.
Rekhanta Das, the former Nalbari district president of Kisan Morcha, faced a similar fate as he was relieved of all party responsibilities after being linked to the "cash-for-job-scam." Chaliha, another Kisan Morcha leader, and Chakraborty, a former BJP cadre, were also ensnared in this web of intrigue.
Initially treated as a suicide case, the investigations took a startling turn when Anurag Chaliha was arrested, and scores of government job admit cards were discovered in his possession. Further complicating matters were audio clips revealing conversations between the deceased and her colleagues, shedding light on different aspects of the case.
Sources have indicated that the five arrested individuals have divulged crucial information, implicating several senior BJP leaders, including a vice-chairman of a corporation planning to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
In response to these developments, Rupam Goswami, a senior spokesperson for the BJP, stated, "The law will take its own course. The party will not interfere in any legal and investigation matters."
Meanwhile, opposition leaders from the Congress party met Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on August 24, demanding stringent punishment for those responsible for the scandal that led to Tahbildar's tragic suicide. In a memorandum, they alleged that the circumstances surrounding her death exposed a "ring of corruption" within the present BJP-led Assam government.
As investigations continue to unfold, Assam remains gripped by this harrowing saga, casting a shadow over the state's political landscape and leaving many questions unanswered.