Guwahati, Sept 23: Two days after a Congress convoy was allegedly attacked during campaigning for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Wednesday approached the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking the immediate removal of the Nagaon District Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer (DEO) from election-related responsibilities to ensure a “free and fair” poll. In a letter to the ECI, APCC strongly objected to the press note issued by the Nagaon DEO on September 22 describing the incident at Borma Bazar on September 21 as a “sudden and completely unforeseen occurrence”.

“The APCC has serious and legitimate concerns regarding the neutrality and impartiality of the District Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Nagaon,” the letter said. The party said its concern over the neutrality of the Nagaon district election machinery was based not only on the alleged attack but also on the combination of the advance warnings, the subsequent incident and the manner in which the incident was described in the official press note.

The Congress requested the ECI to independently examine the entire matter through its observers or any other appropriate mechanism, saying it had “lost confidence in the neutrality” of the present Nagaon DC-cum-DEO. It also urged the poll panel to immediately remove or replace the officer from election-related responsibilities and assign those duties to another senior officer so that the remaining election process is conducted by an official whose neutrality and impartiality is acceptable to all contesting parties.

The Congress further disputed the characterisation, claiming that the district administration had been repeatedly alerted in advance about a possible attack on its leaders and workers. “The incident is not sudden – the administration was repeatedly alerted in advance,” APCC said in the letter, adding that Congress leader and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain had repeatedly informed Nagaon Deputy Commissioner about an anticipated gathering and an alleged plan to attack the Congress convoy at Borma Bazar.

According to the letter, Hussain had also informed the Nagaon DC that stones and other materials were allegedly being collected and kept ready around Borma Bazar. The DC, the letter said, responded, “Please don’t worry.

Please come, all arrangement has been made.” The letter further claimed that Hussain had communicated with Additional SP Rosy Talukdar several times, alerting her to apprehensions that BJP supporters and people allegedly associated with anti-social activities had gathered and kept stones and other materials ready to attack Congress leaders and workers en route to the permitted meeting venue.