Guwahati: A forum against superstitious beliefs on Sunday alleged that the present BJP-led government in Assam was promoting superstitious beliefs, the fallout of which could have led to the lynching of two youths from the city in Karbi Anglong on the suspicion of being child kidnappers.

"The superstitious beliefs are being spread under the patronage of the state government. There have been numerous instances of ministers to top bureaucrats spreading such beliefs. The state government has been promoting vaastu shastra, astrology and unscientific activities like worshipping rivers through Namami festivals," said Chandramohan Sarma, president of Ellora Vigyan Mancha, said on Sunday.

Sarma said the two youths, Nilotpal Das and Abhijit Nath, might have been victims of superstitious beliefs. He said not only the duo but many other innocent people are harassed after branding them pisol manuh (slippery man who steals children) and witches. "But the state machinery is not taking action to prevent such incidents," Sarma said.

According to Sarma, most BJP ministers had reconstructed their office chambers according to vaastu shastra by spending crores of rupees of public money.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti said in a statement that leaders and members of a "communal political" party have been spreading rumours in a bid to destabilise the state before publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi submitted memoranda to director-general of police Kuladhar Saikia and additional DGP (law and order) Mukesh Agarwala to probe the Karbi Anglong incident.

Hailakandi alert: Deputy commissioner Adil Khan appealed to the people not to be swayed by rumours and the misinformation campaign spread by certain elements. Khan sought the cooperation of all, including the media, to quell such propaganda and to maintain peace and tranquillity across the district.

Additional reporting by our Hailakandi correspondent