About 30 people injured in election-related violence in Assam; Hold seven

About 30 people were injured and seven others were arrested in connection with election-related violence in Assam on Thursday, officials said.

A senior police officer told PTI that the Congress candidate in Patharkandy constituency in Sribhumi district, Kartik Sena Sinha, entered the Rangamati polling station and started an altercation with the president.

“He claimed that fake voters cast real votes. When the President denied the charge, he broke the electronic voting machine. After that, Congress and BJP supporters started a fight,” he added.

Sinha is in direct competition with Assam Minister and BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul.

“In the clash, about 25 people were injured, two of them in serious condition. They were sent to Karimganj Civil Hospital for treatment,” the officer said.

Senior Police Inspector Sribhumi, Leena Dooley, reached the spot and reviewed the situation.

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Voting was halted at the polling station for about three hours due to the disturbances. It resumed after election officials replaced the EVM.

“Sinha has left the spot. No arrests have been made so far. Further investigations are underway,” the officer said.

In another incident, three Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) leaders were injured in a clash with BJP supporters in Khwang constituency in Dibrugarh district, another police officer told PTI.

“According to reports, the RJD claimed that the BJP was running an IT cell in a house in the area. A group of RJD workers reached there along with the police. After some time, RJD leaders Samudra Baruah, Swakhiyar Borgohain and Chitrakmal Handik also went there,” he added.

After a heated exchange of words, the RJD workers and BJP activists engaged in a physical scuffle, in which the three RJD leaders were injured, the officer said.

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When contacted, Dibrugarh Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Abhijeet Dilip said, “The building appears to be a party office. Further investigations are being conducted to ascertain what exactly is happening there. So far, no arrest has been made.”

Besides, minor clashes were also reported at several polling stations in several areas after voting began in the morning, with people sustaining minor injuries.

One of the officials said: “Most of the clashes occurred due to the intense stampede, as people were fighting to break the queue.”

Some polling stations witnessed clashes between government supporters and opposition parties. He added that the police were already present in those areas and the situation was dealt with immediately.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh told PTI that the violence took place in Tamulpur and Sivasagar on Wednesday evening, hours before polling for the Assembly elections began at 7 am.

“We received reports of a clash between two groups in Tamulpur last night. The police reached the spot immediately and tried to control the crowd. When they did not listen, I fired a few shots in the air to disperse the mob,” he said, adding that four people were arrested from the scene.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) CEO Hagrama Mohilary said a detailed investigation will reveal the reason for the clash in Tamulpur.

He added, “The situation is normal now, and we are monitoring it, and there is a sufficient security presence to avoid any unwanted incident.”

In another incident, some members of a political party were attacked in Sivasagar, Singh said.

He added, “We have arrested three people. The investigation is ongoing.”

Akhil Gogoi, who is seeking re-election from the Sibsagar seat, alleged that BJP candidate Kushal Duari was behind the incident.

In a series of social media posts, Gogoi claimed that two people were injured and their cars damaged in the attack.