Guwahati, Mar 18: In a violent prelude to next month’s panchayat elections, a group of Congress workers was attacked by unidentified miscreants in Jonai, Dhemaji district, on Tuesday morning.
The assault left two seriously injured and resulted in significant damage to a vehicle.
The incident occurred around 11 AM at Meseki Chapori under the Simen Sapori police station.
According to an FIR lodged at the police station, the Congress workers were on their way to an election campaign meeting when they were ambushed by a group wielding rods and sharp weapons.
Among the injured were Dhemaji District Youth Congress president Rahim Pegu, Jonai Block Congress president Tuniram Doley (65), and party members Banikanta Doley, Rajiv Pegu, and Lakhyanath Padun. The attackers also reportedly harassed a female Congress worker and attempted to kill her, as stated in the FIR.
The miscreants severely damaged a Scorpio vehicle belonging to Bikramjit Ramchiary, an independent candidate who had contested from Lakhimpur for the last Lok Sabha elections. The FIR has named eight individuals as perpetrators of the attack.
Despite the complaint, Congress leaders have expressed frustration over the lack of police action against the accused. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and Assam Pradesh Youth Congress condemned the attack, calling it an attempt to suppress opposition voices.
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia strongly criticized the attack, stating, “In a democracy, every political party has the right to campaign. Such violence is unacceptable.”
He urged the state government to ensure a free and fair electoral environment and called on the police and civil administration to take swift action against those responsible.
“The government must create a safe atmosphere where every political party can reach out to voters without fear,” Saikia added.
