Pre-poll tensions escalate in Assam's Sonitpur and Nagaon districts amid Assembly election campaigning

Pre-poll tensions in Assam escalated on Saturday, with incidents of violence reported from Sonitpur and Nagaon districts amid intensified campaigning for the Assembly elections. In Sonitpur’s Naduar constituency , clashes broke out at Tupia during a campaign event, leaving BJP worker Prince Saikia and several others injured. The incident has heightened tensions between the BJP and the Congress in the area. Sources said the situation had been volatile since Friday evening, when Congress workers campaigning for candidate Sunil Chetry were allegedly attacked, prompting strong reactions from party supporters and local residents. On Saturday, former MLA Praneswar Basumatary, who was campaigning in the constituency, was reportedly obstructed, leading to fresh clashes between rival groups. Several workers from both sides sustained injuries, and some vehicles were damaged in the violence. In a separate incident in Nagaon district, clashes were reported on Friday night in the Barhampur constituency . According to reports, the violence occurred at Barchungjar near Chapanala, where a group of BJP workers allegedly vandalised an election office of the Asom Jatiya Parishad and assaulted party workers present there. The incident triggered retaliation from AJP supporters, resulting in further clashes and injuries on both sides. Police later intervened and brought the situation under control, sources said. The AJP has accused BJP workers of instigating the violence, alleging that the attack was pre-planned. Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored as campaigning continues across the state ahead of polling. Police had not issued an official statement on the incidents at the time of filing this report.