Guwahati, Sep 23 The Assam Congress on Wednesday urged the Election Commission (EC) to remove the Nagaon district election officer (DEO) to ensure a “free and fair” Lok Sabha by-election following an alleged attack on a convoy of party leaders earlier this week.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) took strong objection to the DEO office describing the attack in a note as “sudden and a completely unforeseen occurrence”.
The Congress said the attack took place on Monday during campaigning for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, and the district commissioner-cum-district election officer was informed well in advance about the preparations being allegedly made for the attack, and was assured by the administration that all measures were taken to thwart such an incident.
In a letter to the EC, state Congress general secretary Bipul Gogoi said, ”The press note, duly signed by the DEO, characterises the incident as a sudden and completely unforeseen occurrence, which it cannot be. The incident was not sudden and the administration was repeatedly alerted in advance.”
Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain had repeatedly informed and alerted the Nagaon DC-cum-DEO in advance regarding the anticipated gathering and planned attack in Samaguri’s Boroma Bazar by BJP-sponsored anti-social elements, who were collecting stones and other materials, Gogoi said.
The district commissioner asked the Congress leader not to worry, claiming that “all arrangements had been made”, he added.
“Hussain also spoke to the Nagaon senior superintendent of police (SSP) on several occasions, specifically informing him about the visit of AICC general secretary Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders and the need for proper security arrangements,” Gogoi pointed out in the letter.
He further communicated with Additional Superintendent of Police Rosy Talukdar on several occasions and alerted her about the apprehension that BJP supporters and persons associated with anti-social activities had planned to attack the Congress leaders and workers on the way to the permitted meeting venue, he added.
“Under these circumstances, describing the subsequent attack merely as a ‘sudden skirmish’ is a matter of serious concern and requires independent examination. If necessary, Hussain’s call log will be shared with the commission to ascertain how many calls were made and when they were made to these top officials,” he said.
The press note stated that there was sudden stone-pelting, with stones, eggs and bottles thrown, some of which “accidentally” struck vehicles.
“We strongly dispute this characterisation. The incident damaged several of our vehicles and caused injuries to several persons present on the spot,” he added.
The DEO note, however, claimed that no harm was caused to the occupants of the cars, “which is deeply concerning”, Gogoi said.
“The APCC has serious and legitimate concerns regarding the neutrality and impartiality of the district commissioner-cum-district election officer, Nagaon. The concern is not based merely upon the occurrence of the incident. It arises from the combination of prior warnings, the subsequent incident and the manner in which the incident has been described in the official press note,” he added.
The Congress requests that the Election Commission itself, through its observers or any other appropriate mechanism, independently examine the entire matter as the party has lost confidence in the neutrality of the present Nagaon DEO.
“We request the EC to immediately replace the present DEO from election-related responsibilities so that the remaining election process may be conducted by an officer whose neutrality and impartiality command the confidence of all contesting political parties,” the letter stated.
The Congress requests the Election Commission to treat this matter as ”urgent and sensitive, conduct an independent assessment of the circumstances leading to the incident, and take immediate corrective measures to ensure that the remaining election process is conducted in a genuinely free, fair, impartial and secure manner,” Gogoi said in the letter.
(PTI News)
