Violence Erupts During Polling in Assam: Multiple Injuries Reported
Polling Violence in Assam
Poll violence occurred in Nagaon on Thursday
Guwahati/Silchar/Dibrugarh, April 10: Officials reported that approximately 30 individuals sustained injuries and seven were detained due to violence related to polling in the state on Thursday.
A senior police official indicated that Kartik Sena Sinha, the Congress candidate for the Patharkandi constituency in Sribhumi district, allegedly confronted the presiding officer at the Rangamati polling booth.
He accused the presiding officer of allowing fake voters to cast ballots. When the presiding officer refuted this claim, Sinha reportedly damaged the electronic voting machine (EVM), leading to a confrontation between Congress and BJP supporters.
Sinha is competing against Assam Minister and BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul. The altercation resulted in around 25 injuries, with two individuals in serious condition requiring treatment at Karimganj Civil Hospital.
Leena Doley, the Senior Superintendent of Police for Sribhumi, arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
Voting was suspended for nearly three hours due to the unrest but resumed after election officials replaced the damaged EVM.
As of now, Sinha has left the area, and no arrests have been made, although investigations are ongoing.
In a separate incident, three leaders from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) were injured during a clash with BJP supporters in the Khowang constituency of Dibrugarh district, according to another police source.
Reports suggest that AJP members accused the BJP of operating an IT cell from a local residence. A group of AJP workers, accompanied by police, approached the location, where AJP leaders Samudra Barua, Swakhyar Borgohain, and Chitrakamal Handique later joined.
Following a heated verbal exchange, a physical altercation ensued, resulting in injuries to the three AJP leaders.
Dibrugarh Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Abhijit Dilip stated that the building appeared to be a party office, and further investigation is underway to clarify the situation. No arrests have been made so far.
Additionally, minor skirmishes were reported at various polling booths across multiple districts after voting commenced in the morning, with some individuals sustaining minor injuries.
According to officials, most conflicts arose from overcrowding, as people fought over queue-jumping.
In certain polling locations, clashes occurred between supporters of the ruling and opposition parties. However, police presence helped manage these situations promptly.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh reported that violence erupted in Tamulpur and Sivasagar on the night before polling began at 7 am.
Singh mentioned that police intervened during a clash between two groups in Tamulpur, and when the crowd did not disperse, officers fired warning shots into the air. Four individuals were arrested at the scene.
Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary stated that a thorough investigation will clarify the cause of the Tamulpur clash.
“The situation is currently stable. We are monitoring it closely, and adequate security is in place to prevent any further incidents,” he added.
In another report, members of a political party were attacked in Sivasagar, according to Singh.
“Three individuals have been detained, and an investigation is ongoing,” he noted.
Akhil Gogoi, who is running for re-election from the Sibsagar seat, accused BJP candidate Kushal Dowari of being behind the attack.
In a series of social media updates, Gogoi claimed that two individuals were injured and their vehicles were damaged during the incident.