Nagaon, India — Tension escalated sharply in Assam on Thursday following a violent assault on Rakibul Hussain, a Congress MP from Dhubri, who was targeted by masked assailants during a trip to a local party meeting. The incident, which unfolded at New Bazar in Rupahihat, Nagaon district, was captured on video and has profoundly shaken local political circles.
Hussain, alongside his son Tanzil, was abruptly attacked by individuals wielding cricket bats and sticks while they were riding a two-wheeler to Puthikhaiti. The assailants did not just physically assault the MP but also incapacitated his personal security officers, hindered them from defending Hussain, commandeered the vehicle’s keys, and vandalized it, leaving the victims helpless.
In response to the attack, Hussain pointed an accusatory finger at the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging the violent act was a direct consequence of political machinations aimed at intimidating opposition voices. “This was a cowardly attack planned by Himanta Biswa Sarma, who fears losing his grip on power,” Hussain charged during a press meeting following the incident.
Defeated yet defiant, Hussain articulated his concerns regarding the state’s deteriorating law and order scenario under the current administration, especially criticizing the inadequate security measures that he believed could have thwarted the attack. “FIRs are futile when Himanta Biswa Sarma controls the Home Department,” he asserted, highlighting his decision not to file a formal police report.
The Congress party promptly condemned the brutal assault, interpreting the episode as a desperate act by the BJP amidst a backdrop of looming assembly elections. Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah stressed that the BJP’s diminishing popularity is leading it towards orchestrative violence to retain power. “Democracy cannot be won through violence,” he stated emphatically, urging for the immediate apprehension of those behind the assault.
The violent incident has not only prompted a fierce political debate but also incited a widespread outcry from various societal segments. Student and political organizations including the All Assam Students’ Union, All Assam Minority Students’ Union, Muslim Students Union of Assam, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, and AAP Assam have vocally demanded stern action against the culprits and have called for measures to curb the increasing political violence as election fervor intensifies.
As the community reels from this unsettling event, the demands for justice are growing louder, with increasing calls for governmental intervention to ensure such brutal political tactics are not normalized. The incident in Nagaon thus not only endangers the immediate victims but poses a grim challenge to the foundations of democratic engagement and political safety in the region. As the investigation progresses, all eyes are on the actions of Assam’s administration in handling the unrest and restoring trust among its citizens.