BTC Polls: Bajrang Dal activist thrashed at polling centre in Assam's Baksa

TAMULPUR: Even as over 13 lakh residents of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) are heading out to vote in phase 1 of the polls, a conflict has broken out near the Shashipur polling station in Baksa district. Moments earlier, while people were queueing up outside a polling station in the no. 26 Darangajuli Constituency, a Bajrang Dal activist was reportedly thrashed by a CISF personnel manning the station, causing him to bleed from the forehead.

The Bajrang Dal activist claimed that he was beaten up when he tried to stop the personnel from thrashing locals at the polling centre. "People, including ladies, were being beaten. Since I am from the Bajrang Dal, I took a video of the scene that was unfolding here with the phone. When the jawan saw me, he snatched my phone and asked me why I was making a video. He then went on to beat me up," he said.

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The incident has caused a hue-and-cry in the region, with Bajrang Dal activists descending on the poll booth in great numbers and extending support to their fellow activist.

Local police said that there was a mild lathi charge after a "misunderstanding" with the voters. "However, peace has been restored and the situation has been brought under control.

We have launched an investigation into the matter and action will be taken on the basis of that," an official said, adding that Assam Police and the CISF have been deployed in the area for area domination and other poll-related activities.

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