Tension gripped Assam’s Jorhat district after unidentified miscreants allegedly attacked the residence of a Congress worker late Thursday night, setting fire to a food stall located inside the family premises. The incident took place at Rangajan under the Titabor police station area in the early hours of Friday.
According to police officials, the attack occurred around 1:30 am when the family members were asleep. Local residents reportedly noticed flames rising from the compound and rushed to alert the occupants. The fire was eventually brought under control with the help of neighbours before it could spread further.
The victim, identified as Congress worker Rupali Das, alleged that the food joint situated in front of the house was completely gutted in the blaze. Some spare parts of a commercial passenger vehicle owned by her husband were also damaged. The total loss is estimated to be between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, according to initial assessments.
Das claimed that after the fire was extinguished, family members found a glass bottle filled with petrol and attached with a wick, raising suspicion that the fire may have been deliberately started using a crude petrol bomb. Police have registered a complaint and launched an investigation into the incident. Officials said further details would emerge once the probe progresses.
The attack comes amid rising political tension in Assam following the recently concluded Assembly elections, where the BJP-led NDA returned to power with a massive majority for a third consecutive term. Political clashes and allegations of intimidation have surfaced from several parts of the state after the declaration of results.
This is reportedly the second such incident involving opposition members within the week. Earlier, unidentified persons allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the residence of a Congress candidate in Diphu, although no explosion took place and no injuries were reported.
Congress leaders have repeatedly accused the ruling establishment of failing to ensure the safety of opposition workers in the state. However, police authorities have not yet confirmed any political angle behind the latest attack in Jorhat.
Security has been tightened in the area, while investigators continue to examine evidence collected from the spot.
