The Congress has filed a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) against Sonitpur SP Barun Purkayastha over attack on its Naduar candidate Sunil Kumar Chetry.
The Opposition party has accused the SP of
wilfully failing to prevent the brutal assault on Chetry.
In a letter to the CEC, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has sought appropriate directions from the Election Commission to the Assam Police for strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct and prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Chetry, a former president of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, was attacked by a group that the Congress alleged comprised BJP workers while he was campaigning on Monday.
The Congress candidate’s convoy was allegedly attacked at Napalm Bypass of the constituency followed by a scuffle.
Chetry fell to the ground and was seen groaning before he was rushed to a private hospital for treatment.
Senior Congress spokesperson Rupa Kalita and other party workers were also injured in the incident.
“As of the filing of this complaint, no FIR has been registered against the named perpetrators, nor have any concrete steps been taken to apprehend them, despite the incident occurring in broad daylight during active election campaign. Notwithstanding the Model Code of Conduct being in full force and prior warnings of heightened political tensions in Sonitpur district (including an earlier clash on or around March 28), the SP did not deploy adequate preventive measures or provide security to the Congress candidate, despite formal requests for enhanced protection. This constitutes a violation of the duty to ensure free and fair elections under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Gaurav Gogoi said in the letter to the CEC.
Indian National Congress Files Complaint with Election Commission of India Against Sonitpur SP Over Attack on Naduar Candidate
