'Women workers manhandled’: Neog on BJP–Congress clash at Pandu rally

Guwahati, April 2: Tension gripped parts of the Pandu locality on Wednesday evening after a clash broke out between workers of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during an election campaign rally in support of Congress candidate Bidisha Neog from the Jalukbari Assembly constituency.

The incident occurred in the Maligaon–Pandu area when a large bike rally, organised by the Congress as part of its campaign, passed through the locality.

According to initial reports, the rally saw a significant turnout of party workers and supporters, underscoring the charged political atmosphere ahead of the Assembly elections.

The situation soon escalated into violence, with workers from both parties reportedly engaging in a confrontation.

Several people sustained injuries, while multiple vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, were vandalised.

While the exact number of injured persons is yet to be officially confirmed, sources said the injuries ranged from minor to moderate.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses alleged that Congress workers were assaulted during the clash.

Following the incident, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) condemned the violence, terming it an attack on democratic processes.

“Yesterday evening, during an election campaign rally in the Pandu area of Maligaon in support of Congress candidate Bidisha Neog of the Jalukbari constituency, BJP workers obstructed the rally, assaulted our Congress workers, and damaged several cars and motorcycles. We strongly condemn this incident and urge the administration and the Election Commission to take strict legal action against those involved at the earliest,” the statement read.

Congress candidate Neog alleged that the attack was coordinated and occurred at multiple points along the rally route.

“The first clash led to damage to bikes and cars. We still continued the rally, but along the permitted route, a group blocked us near a temporary structure and made us wait,” she said.

Neog claimed the situation escalated further with repeated attacks. “They vandalised vehicles and broke glass windows. We were attacked at around four places. Women workers were manhandled, subjected to lewd gestures, and even had their clothes torn. Our election agent was also assaulted,” she alleged.

She further claimed that she was injured during the incident and that video evidence is available. “I was hit on the back. We have video recordings of the entire assault,” she said, adding that police personnel who intervened were also targeted.

“When the police tried to stop them, they were also attacked. Even while we were being escorted, a large group followed us and continued the assault,” she added.

The incident has raised concerns over election-related violence in the city, particularly in high-profile constituencies such as Jalukbari, where political contestation remains intense.

Efforts to contact the police for an official response were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.