Guwahati, April 5: A controversy has erupted after a man with multiple theft cases registered against him was among the recipients of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Rongali Bihu gift of a ‘gamosa’ (traditional scarf or towel) meant for prominent citizens.

It is unclear how the name of the thief, a resident of the Lakhimpur district, was included in the list of recipients.

The chief minister traditionally presents prominent citizens of the state with a ‘samosa’ as a gesture of goodwill on Rongali Bihu, celebrated in mid-April to mark the beginning of the Assamese New Year.

Among this year’s recipients was one Sida Das from the Bosagaon district, who has had several cases registered against him since 2016.

A photograph of the village headman presenting Das with the ‘gamosa,’ packed in a trademark pink-colored paper box, surfaced on social media and was also published in local newspapers.

The Bihu gift distribution took place just ahead of the announcement of the panchayat election schedule on Wednesday evening, after which the model code of conduct came into effect.

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