The assault on Congress MLA Rumi Nath sparked off violent protests and a bandh in south Assam's Barak Valley today as police resorted to lathicharge and apprehended five persons involved in the attack. Tension prevailed for the second day in Barak Valley over the assault of the MLA and her second husband Jacky Zakir as violence was reported from several areas. "Five persons suspected to have been involved in the attack on the woman MLA have been arrested from here," Karimganj district Superintendent of Police Pradip Pujari said. Supporters of Nath pelted stones and damaged two buses of the Assam State Transport Corporation in Karimganj. Eight minority organisations,including Ahl-e-Sunnat,called for a 12-hour bandh in Hailakandi district today. The outfits called for action against persons responsible for the assault on Nath and her husband and also demanded that government take steps to protect the minority communities. The bandh was total and normal life in the district was disrupted,official sources said. Meanwhile,in Srikona in Cachar district,police resorted to a mild lathi charge on supporters of Nath,who had resorted to a road blockade. Nath,who represents Borkhola constituency in Cachar,and her second husband were beaten up and injured on Friday night in a hotel here by a group of people who were angry over her second marriage without divorcing her first husband. The MLA and her second husband,who were escorted to Guwahati,have received medical treatment and were reported to be out of danger. Nath has filed an FIR with the police alleging that a mob had attacked her on "political motivation".
