Guwahati, April 28: In a disturbing escalation during Assam’s panchayat election campaign, Congress MP from Nagaon, Pradyut Bordoloi, and Congress MLA Sibamoni Bora were attacked by masked miscreants wielding iron rods at Dungdungiya under Juria police station in Nagaon district on Sunday afternoon.
While both leaders narrowly escaped serious injuries, two vehicles in their convoy were extensively damaged. The attack occurred as Bordoloi, Bora, and several Congress workers were campaigning in Dhing.
After a series of election rallies, they were moving out from Jengoni Sluicegate in a convoy of seven vehicles when assailants, dressed in black and with faces covered, ambushed them at a deserted stretch. The attackers smashed windows and windshields and attempted to strike Bordoloi and Bora directly. Both leaders, seated in the same vehicle, evaded serious harm by sheer luck.
Speaking to the media, Bordoloi described the incident as a “pre-planned” assault, hinting at political motives behind it. He drew parallels to a similar attack during the Samaguri bypoll, allegedly orchestrated by ruling party supporters.
“In my nearly three decades in politics, I have never seen such a breakdown of law and order in Assam as we are witnessing today under BJP rule. Violence is the last refuge of the desperate. No force can silence the will of the people, and our fight will only grow stronger,” Bordoloi asserted.
This is not an isolated case. On February 20, Congress MP Rakibul Hussain also faced a similar attack by masked miscreants while travelling to a party meeting at Rupohi.
Confirming Sunday’s incident, Nagaon Superintendent of Police Swapnaneel Deka said that an investigation has been launched despite no formal FIR being filed yet. “As soon as we received the information, we initiated the investigation,” Deka stated.
The attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of political leaders amid the highly charged election environment. Police are working to identify the attackers and determine the motive behind the ambush.
Reacting strongly, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah said, “The quality of a democracy is seen in how the ruling party treats the opposition.
Today’s attack reflects the democratic decline under the BJP’s rule.”
“I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on MP Pradyut Bordoloi and MLA Sibamoni Bora. Such assaults on Congress leaders are becoming a recurring feature under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tenure,” Borah added.
He further warned, “We are noting that the constitutional duty of punishing the guilty is not being fulfilled. The day of reckoning is not far. A team of senior Congress leaders will visit the DGP of Assam Police tomorrow to register our formal protest and submit a memorandum.”
