Violence rocks Asom on eve of second and final phase of polls

Tezpur, Apr 9 (UNI) Tezpur could prove to be the eyesore in tomorrow's second phase of Asom polls after AGP president's car was attacked today and three party leaders were hurt in another attack by alleged Congress supporters late last night.

After three Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leaders were hacked by alleged Congress supporters here late last night, AGP chief Brindabon Goswami's car was attacked this evening.

However, Mr Goswami, the sitting MLA from the constituency and the chief ministerial candidate of the main Opposition party in the state, escaped unhurt.

His security personnel had to resort to firing in the air to disperse the attackers even as the latter pelted stones at Mr Goswami's car. An escort security vehicle was damaged in the incident.

Mr Goswami was returning after visiting party workers in a nearby place to ask them to maintain peace in the face of any provocation.

He had received reports that rival factions were provoking AGP workers and had gone to reassure his partymen.

The AGP has registered a formal complaint with the Election Commission regarding the two incidents and alleged that the district administration was working in connivance with the Congress.

Hundreds of AGP workers converged to the party office here after Mr Goswami was brought here following the attack on his car.

In last night's incident, three AGP leaders were hacked by alleged Congress supporters when they had tried to stop alleged distribution of liquor by local Congress candidate Bijit Saikia's men.

Two of the injured, Mr Chandan Bora and Mr Phulhas Ahmed, were referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital in critical condition, while the third, Mr Arup Bora, was admitted to the local Kanaklata Civil Hospital with serious cut injuries on the forearm.

Mr Goswami and party vice-president Birendra Prasad Baishya had rushed to the local civil hospital immediately.

Later, talking to reporters, Mr Goswami had said, ''I tried to contact the district administration but all attempts failed. It was only after I talked to the Chief Electoral Officer and he intervened, did the district officials came.'' The AGP president alleged the Congress supporters came up to the Hospital and damaged another local AGP leader Pabitra Borthakur's vehicle.

Meanwhile, more paramilitary forces had been rushed to the town following the incident.

A disturbing atmosphere prevailed in the town and its adjoining areas even as the AGP chief tried to appease his party workers and urged them to refrain from retaliating in the wake of any provocation by the rivals.

UNI MT-SG PC SRS RAI2002