Guwahati, April 17: Political tensions in Assam escalated sharply on Thursday as over 200 Congress leaders and supporters marched toward the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), accusing the Assam Police of acting at the behest of the ruling BJP to intimidate opposition candidates in the run-up to the panchayat elections.
The flashpoint was the early morning arrest of Barnali Devi, Congress’s candidate for the Kathiatoli Zilla Parishad seat, and her husband. The two were taken into custody from the residence of senior Congress leader Ranjit Bora in Barhampur, Nagaon district—triggering widespread outrage within the party.
According to Congress leaders, the raid took place around 4 a.m., with over 100 police personnel from Samaguri, Nagaon Sadar, and Kampur stations surrounding Bora’s home. After initial resistance from Bora’s family, police forced entry and arrested Barnali Devi and her husband.
Police claimed her arrest was linked to an ongoing case involving a dumper business (Case No. 58/25). However, she was granted bail later in the day. Congress, meanwhile, strongly dismissed the claim, alleging the arrest was politically motivated.
“This wasn’t law enforcement—it was pure intimidation. Barnali Devi had already reported threats from BJP members since filing her nomination. Thursday’s raid proves how far the ruling party will go to silence opposition,” said Ranjit Bora.
The protest march, led by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah and MP Pradyut Bordoloi, was stopped by police near the DGP office in Ulubari. Denied permission to meet the DGP, Congress leaders sat on the road in protest for over an hour.
Eventually, five representatives—including Borah, Bordoloi, and Deep Bayan—were allowed to meet the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) and file a formal complaint.
Addressing the media, MP Pradyut Bordoloi said the ruling BJP was using state machinery to create fear and sabotage the democratic process.
“Over 100 policemen gheraoed the home of Barhampur Block Congress president. This is not governance—it’s coercion. Why threaten, bribe, or arrest our candidates if BJP truly enjoys public support?” he questioned.
APCC Chief Bhupen Kumar Borah was even more scathing: “The Assam Police has become a tool of the BJP. If this continues, they should remove their uniform badges and wear BJP logos instead. This isn’t an election—it’s an assault on democracy.”
Borah accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of orchestrating a state-sponsored campaign to undermine the opposition. “In Dhekiajuli, police officers accompanied BJP leaders to threaten our candidates. They offered money, lodged fake FIRs, and pressured nominees to withdraw. Is this how democracy functions?”
Borah declared that the party will launch protests at every police station in Assam if such political interference continues. “The people will judge this betrayal. We are not just contesting elections—we are defending the Constitution.”
He added, “You can arrest us, suppress us, but you cannot crush our democratic resolve. We demand a fair investigation into Barnali Devi’s arrest and protection for all candidates contesting under the Congress banner.”
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