ULFA says Handique poisoned, calls bandh

Alleging that the recent death of ULFA Chief Advisor Robin Handique was due to ‘‘slow poisoning by the authorities’’, the banned outfit has called a 12-hour Assam bandh on September 8.

ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said Handique, who died on August 31 in a Tezpur Hospital while in jail custody, had various ailments but was denied proper medical facilities. He alleged that Handique’s death ‘‘amounted to murder due to slow poisoning in gross violation of human rights norms’’.

The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has directed the Sonitpur District Magistrate to get the matter inquired into by a senior magistrate.

Meanwhile, the DIG prisons today clarified that ‘‘Handique was given all necessary treatment.’’