Bhupesh Baghel

GUWAHATI/NEW DELHI: Two Congress functionaries were injured and several vehicles damaged in Assam Monday after an alleged attack on their convoy in Samaguri where they were campaigning for the Oct 6 Nagaon assembly bypoll.AICC secretary Manoj Chouhan and Assam Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur were injured in the incident in Nagaon district. AICC in-charge of Assam, Bhupesh Baghel, was also part of the roadshow. Congress later filed an FIR at Nagaon and sought adequate security for Baghel.Assam Congress’s media department chairperson Bedabrata Bora alleged “hired BJP goons” attacked the convoy with bottles, stones and bricks. He said Chouhan suffered chest and abdominal injuries, while Borthakur sustained head injuries.Around four vehicles, including those carrying LS MP Gaurav Gogoi and candidate Sibamoni Bora, were severely damaged, he said.Baghel Tuesday blamed CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for the attack. “The attack was nothing but a manifestation of Sarma’s panic. They have already conceded defeat and are desperately trying to intimidate us into retreating indoors.

But he should know we are not people who can be frightened,” he said.In Delhi, Congress held a presser to denounce the “planned murderous attack”.Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X that it was a “shameful attempt by BJP, with the tacit approval of Election Commission, to avert a likely defeat” in the bypoll.The Assam chief minister denied BJP’s involvement and blamed the incident to internal Congress rivalry. “There is constant dispute and infighting between them,” he said.