Assam Congress seeks removal of Nagaon poll officer over convoy attack incident

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has petitioned the Election Commission of India to remove Nagaon District Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Aranyak Saikia. The party alleges the district administration failed to act on advance warnings about a possible attack on its campaign convoy during the October 6 Lok Sabha by-election.

Congress leader Rakibul Hussain had repeatedly flagged security concerns to the District Commissioner, Police Superintendent, and other officials before a campaign event featuring former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. On September 21, the convoy was targeted in the Samaguri area, with stones, eggs, and bottles allegedly thrown at vehicles. Two Congress functionaries were reportedly injured and several vehicles damaged.

The district administration gave a different account, stating a confrontation between two groups broke out during the procession, after which stones and eggs were thrown. Congress has questioned this version and sought an independent examination by Election Commission observers or another appropriate mechanism.