Police on Monday arrested three persons accused of killing a vegetable vendor, Sanatan Deka, in Kamrup’s Hajo.

The arrested have been identified as Faizul Haque, Abdul Jalil and Yusuf Uddin Ahmed, all residents of Hajo.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Kamrup superintendent of police Partha Sarathi Mahanta said the two accused have been booked under Section 120(B)/302 of the IPC.

Hajo legislator Suman Haripriya said it was shocking that a person was beaten to death. “The person worked in a private company but had come home because of the lockdown and started growing and selling vegetables from home.” She added that she has appealed to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to provide Deka’s wife with a government job in order to support the family.

Congress leader Dulu Ahmed said the culprits need to be punished but at the same time the issue should not be given a communal colour.

He added that he has noticed a section of people trying to make it a communal issue. “Even Ulfa leader Jiten Dutta had made a provocative statement on the issue and I request him not to do so which might create a division among the people.”

On Saturday, Sanatan, a resident of Tetetia village, was coming from the market when he suddenly collided with a car being driven by Jalil Ali and Sabir Ali. Following this, there was a heated argument between them which later allegedly turned into a physical fight joined by Faizul and Yusuf. Residents, however, managed to stop the fight and took Deka to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Director-general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said the police have noticed that some people are trying to give a communal angle to the incident and in the time of crises when there is pandemic raging, people should refrain from making communal statements.