Congress supporters attack AASAA member

Guwahati, Dec 24 (UNI) Tension ran high in the tea garden areas of Assam's Sibsagar district since last evening as opposing factions clashed ahead of the Panchayat election in the district on December 31.

Police said here today that All Adivasi Students' Association (AASAA) member Pradip Nayak was attacked and seriously injured by Congress supporters.

The incident took place at the Manjushree tea estate under Sonari police station in the district this afternoon.

Later, an irate mob set ablaze an auto rickshaw after the incident.

Police officials rushed to the spot and the situation was now control, police added.

The coming Panchayat polls have pitted the AASAA against the Congress with the former, along with other tea tribe organisations, calling a poll boycott and banning the entry of Congress workers in the tea garden areas.

UNI