Guwahati, 26th February: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah has been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police. Borah received the CID summon today, directing him to appear before the authorities on March 2. The summon is related to the chaos that occurred at Khanapara near Guwahati during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The summon issued for Borah mentions his appearance at the CID office at 11:30 am on March 2. Notably, a First Information Report (FIR) in the case named Rahul Gandhi, along with other senior Congress leaders such as KC Venugopal, Jitendra Singh, Jairam Ramesh, Srinivas BV, Kanhaiyya Kumar, Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupen Kumar Borah, and Debabrata Saikia.
Previously, Assam Police issued summons to Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar and another party leader for questioning in connection with the case. Summons were also issued to Guwahati City Congress general secretary Ramen Kumar Sarma, who were asked to appear before the police on February 23.
Borah had appeared twice before Jorhat Police earlier, where he was questioned in connection with a case registered against him for allegedly diverting the route and creating chaos during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi.
The incident on January 23 saw Congress workers breaking police barricades in the presence of Gandhi and other leaders, leading to clashes with police. Despite the dismantling of the barrier, Gandhi emphasized adherence to the law and proceeded along the permitted route. Subsequently, Guwahati Police lodged a suo motu FIR against Gandhi and other leaders for “wanton acts of violence”.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the action as “naxalite” style and instructed police to register a case. Sarma announced that the “instigators”, including Gandhi, would be arrested after the Lok Sabha polls to avoid “politicising” the issue before the general elections.