Police Raid at AJP President's Residence Ignites Political Firestorm in Assam
Political tensions in the Khowang assembly constituency of Dibrugar district reached a boiling point on Friday when a substantial police force conducted a search operation at the residence of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Godapani. The raid, led by Amit Ranjan Barman, the in-charge co-district superintendent of police for Khowang, has triggered a fierce war of words between the AJP and BJP, with both parties trading serious allegations of misconduct and violence.
Immediate Backlash and Protests Erupt
The police search prompted an immediate and volatile reaction from AJP supporters, who gathered in large numbers at Gogoi's residence to protest what they deemed an unjustified intrusion. The atmosphere grew intensely tense as heated exchanges erupted between protesters and police personnel, with demonstrators vocally demanding to know the legal basis for the operation. Authorities eventually managed to bring the situation under control through intervention, but not before the incident had already escalated political animosities in the region.
AJP Condemns Raid as Politically Motivated
At a press conference following the raid, AJP leader Chittaranjan Basumatary strongly condemned the police action, alleging blatant political interference. "Thirty to forty police personnel, without any search warrant or prior notice, suddenly descended upon AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi's residence. We firmly believe that political pressure orchestrated this search, and we condemn this incident in the strongest terms," Basumatary stated.
He further accused the police of failing to act on previous incidents of violence, citing an assault on an AJP member during polling day that went unpunished despite an FIR being filed. Basumatary also claimed that BJP workers had vandalized a vehicle belonging to an AJP member during Thursday's polling, and he questioned the legality of the raid, urging the Election Commission of India to investigate and take necessary action. "How can police conduct a house search without a warrant or chargesheet? We will resort to democratic protests if no steps are taken," he warned.
BJP and Police Defend the Operation
In defense of the operation, Amit Ranjan Barman asserted that the search was based on a formal complaint. "A case was registered against AJP members by the BJP, which led to the house search. However, we did not find the individuals in question," he explained. Dibrugarh SSP Abhijit Gurav also backed the action, emphasizing that due procedure had been followed. "Following technical inputs related to the incident in Khowang, the police team reached the location and conducted the search as per legal procedure," Gurav stated.
BJP Accuses AJP of Violence and Desperation
Meanwhile, state Cabinet minister Bimal Borah, addressing a separate press conference in Khowang, condemned what he described as unprovoked violence by AJP supporters against BJP workers after Thursday's polling. "AJP members did not even spare women—they assaulted them and vandalized our office. Their supporters attacked BJP workers in a blatant display of aggression," Borah alleged, accusing the AJP of hiding behind regionalist rhetoric while acting against the ethos of Assam's indigenous people.
Borah framed the violence as a sign of desperation, suggesting it stemmed from the AJP's anticipated defeat. "When they realized that Lurinjyoti Gogoi was going to be defeated in Khowang, they resorted to violence. We do not support such acts—it is not the culture of our party," he remarked.
Background of Electoral Tensions
The raids, protests, and allegations come just one day after a violent clash was reported from Kutuha in Khowang during polling, where vehicles were damaged and supporters from both parties sustained injuries. Dibrugarh Police have initiated an inquiry into Thursday's incident, adding to the already charged political atmosphere. Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the AJP's candidate in the keenly contested Khowang constituency, is locked in a direct fight with BJP's Chakradhar Gogoi—the sitting MLA of the now-abolished Moran constituency—making this one of upper Assam's most politically intense battles.
As the situation unfolds, the incident highlights the deep-seated rivalries and heightened tensions in the lead-up to the assembly election results, with both parties leveraging accusations to sway public opinion and consolidate their positions in this critical electoral landscape.
