The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday claimed that a Congress convoy, carrying senior party leaders, was allegedly attacked during a roadshow held in the Borma-Kawaimari area as part of its campaign for the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.
Addressing a media conference in Guwahati, party spokespersons strongly condemned the alleged attack by goons on the convoy carrying MP Rakibul Hussain; Assam PCC chief Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Wazed Ali Choudhury; Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur; Congress candidate for Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, Sibamoni Bora, and several MLAs.
Narrating the incident, Bedabrata Bora, chairman of the APCC media department, alleged that while travelling from Samaguri to Lorimukh, goons “hired by the BJP” had hurled bottles, stones and bricks on the Congress convoy.
“In the attack, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Manoj Chauhan sustained serious injuries on his chest and abdomen, while Mahila Congress President Mira Borthakur suffered head injuries. Around four vehicles, including the one carrying MP Gaurav Gogoi and candidate Sibamoni Bora, were severely vandalised,” Bora claimed.
Expressing deep outrage, the Congress leaders stated that the APCC president had alerted the DGP and Nagaon Police in writing about potential untoward incidents or electoral violence during the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, while the local MLA had also apprised the District Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police.
“Despite these alerts, the police and civil administration failed to adopt any security measures. Furthermore, even after the nomination of Sibamoni Bora — a former MLA and a woman candidate representing a national party — was declared valid, she was denied the security cover she was officially entitled to,” he said.
Addressing the media conference, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Jayprakash Das, criticised the home department and police administration, stating that while the general public anticipated such violent incidents during the election, the police remained completely passive.
“Police remained as mute spectators when masked miscreants attacked leaders on the campaign trail and failed to protect the candidate. While the police are capable of shooting individuals in custody, they become powerless when it comes to preventing such incidents,” Das said.
The Congress leaders challenged the BJP and the Election Commission, asserting that if the ruling party cannot allow the Opposition to campaign freely, “it should abandon the pretense of conducting elections and directly declare their candidate victorious”.
The party also strongly condemned the alleged assault and manhandling of journalists covering the election campaign in Samaguri.