Guwahati: The Assam unit of the Congress on Saturday accused the BJP-led government in the state of failing to maintain law and order in the wake of recent militant and criminal activities in the state.

The Opposition party also charged the government with patronising the "syndicates" dominating the business of coal and food in the state.

"Last week, a trader was shot at in Athgaon, an owner of a restaurant was mowed down by a speeding vehicle at Six Mile on the night of Magh Bihu. Police have failed to identify the attackers. Ulfa militants killed a man and his son and abducted another youth in Tinsukia last month. Another youth was killed in police custody at Dhula in Darrang district but the state government, instead of giving justice to the family, ordered the police to open fire at those who protested," PCC president Ripun Bora told reporters here.

One protester was killed and eight others injured after the police opened fire at those who allegedly went berserk following the death of a youth allegedly in police custody on January 11.

"Rampant extortion by militant groups is going on in Upper Assam. Six tankers were torched by suspected Ulfa (I) and NSCN (K) militants in Tinsukia district on Tuesday. Instead of controlling the growing problem of extortion and militant activities, our government is busy celebrating festivals only. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is also the home minister, has failed to control the situation. There is deterioration in law and order in the past one-and-a-half years since the BJP government came to power. Our party had controlled the militancy problem to a large extent but the BJP has failed," Bora said.

He alleged that BJP leaders and some police officers were patronising the "syndicates" active in the business of coal, eggs, fish, cement and other goods in the state.

"Controlling syndicates was one of the promises of the BJP before coming to power but the new government has done nothing," Bora alleged while demanding a high-level inquiry against syndicates.