Tension prevailed in parts of Assam’s Kokrajhar district after a man was killed and four others were seriously injured in a mob attack triggered by suspicion of cattle theft, police said on Tuesday.

According to officials, the victims were associated with a road construction project and were returning from a site inspection in a vehicle late on Monday night.

Police said that when the vehicle reached the Gouri Nagar–Mashing Road stretch, a group of local villagers allegedly tried to stop it, suspecting the occupants to be cattle lifters. During the incident, the vehicle met with an accident, following which the mob allegedly assaulted the occupants and set the vehicle on fire.

Victims rushed to hospital, one dies of injuries

Police and personnel from the fire and emergency services rushed to the spot after receiving information from local residents. The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment.

One of the victims, identified as Sikhna Jwhwlao Bismit, also known as Raja, succumbed to his injuries. Four others — Prabhat Brahma, Jubiraj Brahma, Sunil Murmu, and Mahesh Murmu — sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital.

Protests, security deployment in Kokrajhar

The incident led to unrest in parts of the district, with security forces deployed in the area to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.

On Tuesday, local residents staged protests outside a police outpost and blocked a key highway, demanding justice for the victim and swift action against those involved in the attack.

Police confirmed that 19 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident, and further investigation is underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Nitin Nabin on his election as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s new national president, describing the 45-year-old leader as a representative of a generation that has seen India transform across decades.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters after the formal announcement, PM Modi underlined the organisational culture of the party by saying that in matters related to the organisation, the newly elected president would be his superior.

“When it comes to party matters, Mananiya Nitin Nabin ji is my boss. I am a worker,” the prime minister said, drawing applause from the gathering.

BJP leadership transition after Sanghatan Parv

Nitin Nabin was elected as BJP national president at the conclusion of the Sanghatan Parv, a wide-ranging organisational exercise that involved elections from the booth level up to the national leadership.

PM Modi said that as party president, Nabin’s role would go beyond managing the BJP’s internal affairs and would include ensuring coordination among National Democratic Alliance partners.

PM Modi highlights generational shift

Describing Nabin as a “millennial,” PM Modi said the new party chief belongs to a generation that grew up listening to news on the radio and is now comfortable using artificial intelligence.

According to the prime minister, this combination of adaptability, youthful energy and experience would be an asset for the party’s future.

“Nitin ji has youthful energy along with rich organisational experience,” PM Modi said.

Tracing BJP’s organisational journey

The prime minister also reflected on the BJP’s growth over the years, recalling its journey under different leaders.

He said the party rose from modest beginnings under leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi. In later years, leaders including M Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari expanded the organisation further.

PM Modi noted that under Rajnath Singh’s leadership, the BJP secured a full majority at the Centre for the first time, while under Amit Shah, the party expanded its footprint across states and returned to power nationally for a second consecutive term.

He added that during JP Nadda’s tenure as president, the BJP strengthened its presence from panchayat-level bodies to Parliament.

Karnataka Director General of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao has been suspended following the circulation of multiple videos on social media purportedly showing him in compromising positions with women. The videos, which remain unverified, reportedly depict Rao in what appears to be his office, and some audio clips allegedly feature him speaking to women in an inappropriate manner.

Suspension order cites unbecoming conduct

The official suspension order stated that Rao’s actions were “obscene” and “unbecoming of a government servant,” causing embarrassment to the state government. It added that the government is “prima facie satisfied that it is necessary to place Dr K. Ramachandra Rao under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry.”

During his suspension, Rao is not permitted to leave the headquarters without written permission from the state government.

Rao rejects allegations

Rao, a 1993 batch IPS officer, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “fabricated and false.” Speaking to reporters, he said, “I am shocked. It is all fabricated and a lie. The video is all false. I have no idea about it.”

He added that he was unsure how or when the videos surfaced, stating, “In this era, anything can happen. I have no idea about it.” Rao also referred to old videos, saying they could date back eight years when he was posted in Belagavi.

Political reactions

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said disciplinary action will follow if Rao is found guilty. “We will initiate disciplinary action against him. No one is above the law, notwithstanding how senior the police officer is,” the CM said.

Senior BJP leader S Suresh Kumar described the incident as a “disgraceful act” and “an inexcusable crime,” asserting that it has tarnished the image of the police department.

Rao’s troubled past

Rao has previously faced allegations related to assisting his stepdaughter, actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested for gold smuggling last year. He was accused of helping her bypass customs and police checks using official protocols. After being placed on compulsory leave in March, Rao was reinstated following an investigation and later appointed as the DGP for the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in August.