Gaurav Gogoi, the Assam Congress president and deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, reported that his convoy was pelted with stones and bottles while en route to a Lok Sabha by‑election rally in Nagaon. The attack unfolded in the Borma area of Samaguri as the convoy headed toward Lorimukh, with a second assault occurring on the return trip.
Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, was also targeted; his vehicle was struck twice, once on the outbound leg and again on the return, according to Baghel himself. Both leaders claimed that BJP supporters had waved black flags, shouted “Go Back,” and then launched the projectiles, shattering windows and injuring AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan inside the car.
Gogoi accused the Assam police of deliberately withholding intervention, stating that officers were “instructed not to act” under directives from the state government. He said that the police had been warned of a potential attack overnight but failed to respond, a claim that the Assam Police confirmed the following day.
Sibamoni Bora, the Congress candidate whose campaign rally the convoy was supporting, was seated in the vehicle that sustained damage; photos of the shattered glass were shared by Gogoi. The incident has heightened tensions ahead of the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by‑election.
A formal complaint has been lodged with the police, and a preliminary investigation is underway. Officials say that a probe will be conducted before the state election committee convenes, aiming to determine whether the assault was politically motivated.
The next step will be a police inquiry scheduled for early next week, with the possibility of filing charges under the Indian Penal Code for assault on public officials. The Congress party has called for a swift resolution, warning that continued impunity could erode democratic norms in Assam.
For local voters, the incident underscores the volatility of campaign routes, with many expressing fear that the violence could spill over into other constituencies as the by‑election approaches.