Congress Alleges Police Negligence in Pre-Poll Violence Incident in Assam
Congress Party Raises Concerns Over Election Security
Screengrab from a video capturing injured Congress Naduar LAC candidate Sunit Chhetri (Photo: @INCAssam/X)
Guwahati, Mar 1: On Wednesday, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), citing significant failures by law enforcement following a violent incident in Naduar, Sonitpur, where Congress candidate Sunil Kumar Chetry sustained injuries.
The party's formal complaint, directed to the Chief Election Commissioner, calls for disciplinary measures against Sonitpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Barun Purkayastha, accusing him of neglecting to prevent the attack and failing to provide sufficient security during the election campaign.
In a letter dated April 1, the APCC expressed its “strongest possible protest” against the SSP, claiming a “complete and willful dereliction of constitutional, statutory, and electoral duties.”
“This negligence has facilitated a blatant physical attack on a recognized candidate of the Indian National Congress during the ongoing election campaign for the Assam Legislative Assembly, undermining the integrity of the electoral process,” the complaint, signed by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, asserted.
The party is demanding the immediate arrest of all identified attackers, a prompt inquiry into the SSP's actions, and his suspension and transfer while the investigation is ongoing.
Eyewitness accounts and alleged video evidence reportedly identify the main aggressors as Mehabub Alam, president of Chowkighat Gaon Panchayat, and Mujahidul Alam, among others.
The APCC further claimed that police officers present at the scene did not intervene effectively or make timely arrests.
“At the time of this complaint, no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the identified assailants, nor have any substantial measures been taken to apprehend them, despite the incident occurring in broad daylight during active election campaigning,” the letter stated.
The party also noted that despite formal requests, adequate preventive measures and security for the candidate were not provided.
Describing this as a breach of the mandate to ensure free and fair elections under Article 324 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the APCC claimed that the inaction of police at the scene constituted “criminal negligence.”
It urged the ECI to take immediate action, including filing an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, along with applicable provisions of the Representation of the People Act.
The party requested that this issue be treated as a formal representation under the Commission’s constitutional authority and called for action within 24 hours.