BJP activists stage a blockade on NH 37 in Nagaon on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Nagaon, May 30: Nagaon police have launched a drive to arrest two zila parishad members who along with another of their associate assaulted BJP legislator Prasanta Phukan at Nagaon circuit house during a visit by members of public accounts committee team yesterday.

Superintendent of police Sunil Kumar today told this correspondent that of the three allegedly involved in the attack, Saiful Islam, a member of Gorajan zila parishad, was arrested last night.

The two main accused in the assault case — zila parishad member from Bhutai Pathari, Manik Ali, and Nagaon zila parishad vice-president Nurul Huda are still absconding.

“We raided the Bengena ati residence of Ali last night but he was not there. Today, we are continuing the search operation in all possible locations to track him and Huda down,” Kumar said.

Huda, Ali and Islam are known to be very close to rural development minister Rakibul Hussain who represents the Samaguri constituency of this central Assam district.

Yesterday, Huda-led zila parishad workers attempted to meet the eight-member public accounts committee team in the Nagaon circuit house.

Huda wanted to speak to PAC team leader Sirajuddin Ajmol personally but was turned down.

Phukan on behalf of the team expressed his inability to sit with Congress leaders which prompted Huda, Ali and Islam to assault Phukan on the spot.

The team later lodged an FIR with Nagaon police alleging assault by Congress goons.

“We found involvement of Ali and Islam through video footage and still photography. After Islam, Ali is going to be arrested very soon. But Huda’s involvement in the attack is doubtful. Hopefully he will be arrested and produced in court ,” Kumar said today.

The Nagaon unit of the BJP today organised a highway blockade in the heart of the town in protest against the alleged attack on party legislator by Congress leaders.

The BJP workers later submitted a memorandum to Nagaon deputy commissioner P. Ashok Babu demanding punishment to the culprits according to the law of the land.

“That type of attack on a legislator is not good for a democratic system. Police cannot arrest a Congress leader even after the assault on a legislator. What do you expect when these goons will not even think twice before killing a layman?” a BJP leader asked.