Independent candidate found in unconscious condition, CM blames Cong for prepoll violence
Guwahati, Nov 10: With just three days left for the by-elections, tensions have erupted in Samaguri constituency as pre-poll violence between Congress and BJP supporters led to several injuries. Miscreants allegedly targeted BJP MLA Jitu Goswami on Saturday night, followed by an attempt on Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain’s life on Sunday afternoon, heightening concerns over candidate safety and election security.
Five individuals, including a journalist, were hurt in the clashes, and an independent candidate was reportedly found unconscious, allegedly after being assaulted.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the violence, attributing responsibility to Congress. Sarma assured that justice would be served, affirming that the government would safeguard the integrity of the democratic process. In a social media post, Sarma accused Congress of hypocrisy, stating, “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.”
The Chief Minister also criticized Congress for allegedly using divisive tactics to retain its minority vote bank in the constituency, suggesting the party’s actions were driven by desperation to avoid defeat. Sarma questioned Congress’s commitment to democratic principles, citing what he described as “extreme” measures taken by the party in the lead-up to the by-election.
On Sunday, a group of 4-5 miscreants reportedly attacked Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain’s vehicle with stones as he exited a booth committee office in Udmari. Hussain’s car sustained significant damage, while two other vehicles in his convoy were partially damaged. In response, Hussain filed an FIR at the Samaguri police station and staged a sit-in protest, demanding the arrest of those responsible. The protest was attended by senior Congress leaders, including MP Rakibul Hussain and Rupahihat MLA Nurul Huda.
The protest drew a large crowd of BJP supporters who chanted slogans against Rakibul and Tanzil Hussain. Congress supporters also responded with slogans such as “BJP Murdabad” and “Rakibul Hussain Zindabad.” Tensions escalated between the two groups until police and paramilitary forces intervened, dispersing the supporters and restoring order in the area.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah condemned the incident, criticizing the BJP for allegedly using “money and muscle power” in the election, which he claimed had “crossed all limits.”
Borah stated, “They forget all democratic values. The attack on Tanzil Hussain was not only an attack on him but on all the people who are trying to exercise their democratic rights.” He urged Assam Police to carry out an impartial investigation and hold those responsible accountable, emphasizing the importance of protecting the democratic process.
This incident appears to be a continuation of escalating tensions following an attempted assault on BJP MLA Jitu Goswami and other BJP members the previous night. On Saturday, a group of miscreants allegedly opened fire and pelted stones at Goswami and BJP workers, including Ajay Kumar Singh, Majibur Rahman, and Asfak, near Muri Puthikhati in Bhatiakhali Gram Panchayat. While Goswami and BJP leader Suresh Bora escaped unscathed, BJP workers Ajay Singh and Asfak, along with a local Congress worker, Imam Uddin, were injured and subsequently hospitalized in Nagaon.
Both parties filed separate complaints with the returning officer of Samaguri constituency, Gunajit Kashyap, on Sunday. The BJP’s complaint, led by minister Bimal Bora and MLA Rupak Sarma, accuses Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, his son Tanzil Hussain, and several Congress workers—Ariful Islam, Ijajul Haque, Arafat Ali, and Ismail Hussain—of attempting to murder MLA Goswami and BJP supporters. The complaint claims these individuals violated the model code of conduct, disrupted communal harmony, and posed a continuous threat throughout the election campaign. BJP leaders noted that some of the accused Congress workers have criminal records and alleged that their actions were creating a climate of fear among voters.
Conversely, Congress filed its own complaint, alleging that, in the presence of MLA Jitu Goswami and BJP leader Suresh Bora, miscreants opened fire at local Congress leader Ismail Hussain. Congress claims that Hussain’s son, Imam Uddin, sustained a bullet injury while attempting to protect his father. The party demanded a free and fair election, urging the police administration to maintain impartiality.
In another incident, independent candidate Musabbir Ali Ahmed was reportedly found unconscious with multiple injuries near Katimari Grant on Sunday. Family members rushed him to a local hospital in Nagaon, where he is currently receiving treatment.
Ahmed recounted the ordeal to the media, alleging he was abducted by miscreants while attending a closed-door meeting. He claimed a youth lured him outside, where he was forcibly taken into a vehicle by a group of individuals, whom he identified as Congress workers. Ahmed alleged that during the abduction, the attackers offered him money and warned him against “dividing the minority votes” in the upcoming by-election. Upon his refusal, he said the group assaulted him severely before dumping him near his residence.
As the by-election draws near, these incidents of violence and mutual accusations underscore rising tensions in Samaguri, raising concerns over the safety of voters and the integrity of the electoral process.
