Guwahati: A Congress convoy carrying Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel was allegedly attacked with stones while the leaders were travelling to Nagaon to attend an election rally.
The incident occurred in the Barma area of Samaguri constituency as Congress leaders were campaigning for the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain were also part of the campaign.
In a post on X, Gogoi alleged that BJP workers attacked the vehicle in which he and Baghel were travelling. He said the police had been asked in advance to control the crowd but alleged that the situation was allowed to escalate.
Gogoi also accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of remaining a “mute spectator” to such incidents in BJP-ruled states.
In a separate post, he shared a video of a damaged vehicle belonging to Bora and said AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan, who was inside the vehicle, had been hit by a stone in the ribs.
According to the Congress account, BJP supporters had raised black flags and shouted “Go Back” slogans as the campaign passed through the area. The situation subsequently escalated, with stones allegedly being thrown at vehicles associated with the Congress campaign.
Gogoi further alleged that people wearing masks hurled stones at the vehicles from a distance, including near Lorigamukh.
Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the area following the incident. There were also reports of journalists being attacked amid the confrontation.
The incident comes amid an increasingly active campaign for the Nagaon bypoll. Congress has fielded Sibamoni Bora, while the BJP has nominated former Nagaon deputy commissioner Debashis Sharma. AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal is also contesting the seat. The by-election is scheduled for October 6.
A Congress campaign programme in Dhing’s Dhupguri had also faced “Go Back” slogans a day earlier, with protesters objecting to the presence of Bora and other Congress leaders, according to reports.