No Police Action After Attack on Candidate: Assam Congress Writes To Poll Body

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, led by its president Gaurav Gogoi, has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, alleging serious police negligence following a violent attack on party candidate Sunil Kumar Chetry in the Naduar Assembly constituency of Sonitpur district.

In a detailed letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the APCC accused Sonitpur Senior Superintendent of Police, Barun Purkayastha, of "gross dereliction of duty" for failing to prevent and act against a brutal assault on Chetry during an election campaign on March 30. 

The party claimed that Chetry was attacked around 3 pm at the Napam Bypass area by a group armed with sticks and batons.

"The assault was carried out in broad daylight and captured on video, clearly showing the candidate being surrounded and beaten," while police personnel present at the scene allegedly failed to intervene effectively, the complaint read.

Senior Congress spokesperson Rupa Kalita and several party workers were also reported to have been injured in the incident.

The APCC further alleged that despite prior warnings of rising political tension in the district and an earlier clash on March 28, adequate security arrangements were not made for the candidate.

"This failure has vitiated the sanctity of the electoral process and undermines the principle of free and fair elections," the letter stated.

Citing provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and invoking Article 324 of the Constitution, the party demanded immediate registration of a police case, arrest of the accused, and a time-bound inquiry into the conduct of the SSP. It also called for deployment of central forces and round-the-clock security for Congress candidates in the constituency.

The APCC has urged the Commission to act within 24 hours, warning that inaction would signal a breakdown of law and order during the ongoing Assam Assembly election campaign.