HT Correspondent
NAGAON, Nov 10: The Samaguri assembly by-election has been marred by frequent incidents of pre-election violence, especially at night. In a shocking incident, a gang of miscreants allegedly fired at MLA Jitu Goswami and BJP workers, namely Ajay Kumar Singh, Majibur Rahman, and Asfak, using illegal firearms and pelting stones near the Muriputhikhati area under Bhatiakhali Gram Panchayat while MLA Jitu Goswami and Suresh Bora, along with some BJP workers, were campaigning for BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarma. As a result of the sudden attack, MLA Jitu Goswami and BJP leader Suresh Bora narrowly escaped injury, while BJP workers Ajay Singh, Asfak, and a local Congress worker identified as Imam Uddin sustained injuries. Sources said that the injured BJP workers and the Congress worker were immediately admitted to a Nagaon-based hospital.
Following the incident, both the BJP and Congress submitted separate complaints against each other to the returning officer of the Samaguri assembly by-election, Gunajit Kashyap. On behalf of the BJP, minister Bimal Bora, MLA Rupak Sarma, and others submitted a complaint against MP Rakibul Hussain and his son Tanzil Hussain, the Congress candidate in the by-election. Meanwhile, the Congress party, led by MLA Sibamoni Bora and others, submitted a complaint against some BJP workers, sources added.
Related Posts:
In the complaint, the BJP asserted that Rakibul Hussain, his son and Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain, and other Congress workers, including Ariful Islam, Ijajul Haque, Arafat Ali, and Ismail Hussain, allegedly violated model code of conduct guidelines, disrupted communal harmony, and attempted to murder MLA Jitu Goswami and other BJP workers during the election campaign on Saturday night in the Muriputhi Kheti area under Bhatiakhali Gram Panchayat by pelting stones and using firearms as well as sharp weapons.
The BJP further stated in the complaint that Arafat Ali, Ariful Islam, Ijajul Haque, and Ismail Hussain are veteran criminals with multiple criminal cases registered against them in various police stations in the district.
The BJP also mentioned in its complaint that Congress, along with MP Rakibul Hussain, allegedly created an atmosphere of fear among voters through repeated acts of violence against BJP workers, supporters, and voters throughout the election campaign period in the entire constituency.
On the other hand, the Congress party alleged that, in the presence of MLA Jitu Goswami, Suresh Bora, and other BJP workers, some miscreants fired at local Congress leader and AP member Ismail Hussain, resulting in his son Imam Uddin sustaining a bullet injury to his foot while trying to protect him. The Opposition Congress has called for a free and fair by-election in the constituency and demanded an impartial role from the police administration in this regard.
