Ahead of bypoll, violence rocks Assam’s Samaguri
Incidents of violence rocked Assam’s Samaguri Assembly constituency, where by-elections will be held on November 13. Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have alleged that gunshots were fired targeting each other’s supporters over the last 24 hours, the police said on Sunday.
It was also alleged that three journalists who went to cover the violence, which happened on Saturday, were manhandled by the Congress supporters.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed the Congress for “resorting to violence under cover of darkness” to intimidate BJP workers, stating that no one would be allowed to sabotage or undermine the democratic process.
“We got reports that an incident of firing took place at Mari Puthikhaiti village in Samaguri. BJP workers alleged that a shot was fired from the house of one Congress worker aiming at ruling party MLA Jitu Goswami’s vehicle,” a police officer said.
Goswami and BJP leader Suresh Bora were travelling in the vehicle at thetime of firing, although no one had been injured, he said.
“On the other hand, Congress workers alleged that the party’s former anchalik panchayat member Ismail Hussain’s son Imam Uddin was shot at by the BJP workers, injuring him in the leg,” the officer said.
The injured victim, Uddin, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, he said, adding that the claims and counter-claims were being verified. Over the night, at least half a dozen vehicles were smashed by supporters of the ruling and opposition parties at several places in the constituency when they clashed with each other, the police added.
For the upcoming bypoll, the Congress has named Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain’s son Tanzil against Diplu Ranjan Sarma of the BJP.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said, “I strongly condemn the attack on MLA Jitu Goswami in Samaguri by @INCAssam supporters. This is the same Congress that proudly holds up the Constitution for the cameras, yet resorts to violence under cover of darkness to intimidate our karyakartas.”
On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in protest at Samaguri against the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Notably, incidents of violence have been reported almost on a daily basis in Samaguri since the bypoll was announced. Already, a number of complaints have been filed by both the BJP and Congress before the Election Commission.
Blame game on
- BJP workers have alleged that a shot was fired from the house of one Congress worker aiming at ruling party MLA Jitu Goswami’s vehicle.
- On the other hand, Congress workers alleged that the party’s former anchalik panchayat member Ismail Hussain’s son Imam Uddin was shot at by the BJP workers, injuring him in the leg
