News Reporter
No injuries reported, but six Congress-linked individuals detained; BJP calls it a serious security breach while Congress alleges political vendetta.
Golaghat, Assam, July 1, 2025– A major political row has erupted in Assam after a plastic water bottle was thrown at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s convoy during his visit to Golaghat district on Monday. Though the bottle did not hit any vehicle and no injuries were reported, the incident has triggered strong reactions across party lines and resulted in the detention of six individuals.
According to police sources, the six detained include active members of the Congress party, with two prominent names — Pallab Chetia, Secretary of the Golaghat District Congress Committee, and Rahul Phukan, the son of a former Block Congress Secretary. Both are reportedly known associates of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi.
While authorities have launched an investigation, senior BJP leaders have termed the act a serious breach of security. Assam Power Minister Prasanta Phukan alleged that the attack may have been a “deliberate attempt on the life of the Chief Minister” and called for an immediate overhaul of his security protocol.
Visual footage of the incident, captured by bystanders and circulated widely on social media platforms, shows the bottle being thrown as the CM’s convoy passed through a crowded area. Though Sarma remained unhurt and continued with his scheduled programs, the political aftermath was swift.
The BJP, led by local MLA Biswajit Phukan, launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of resorting to “cheap stunts” to disrupt governance. “The Congress cannot tolerate the immense popularity of the Chief Minister. Their frustration is now turning into desperate actions,” Phukan claimed during a protest in Dibrugarh, where BJP workers demanded strict action and a formal apology from the opposition.
The Congress party, however, has categorically denied any involvement. Party spokesperson Rituporno Konwar questioned the timing of the arrests, stating that four of the six detained Youth Congress workers were already in custody before the incident took place. “This is clearly a political conspiracy aimed at crushing voices of dissent. Democratic protests are being criminalized under the BJP regime,” Konwar said in a press statement.
Chief Minister Sarma, while interacting with the media later in the day, dismissed the incident with sarcasm, saying, “If throwing a bottle helps them sleep better, so be it.” However, his remarks did little to tone down the political tension.
Senior Congress leaders Bhupen Borah and Rakibul Hussain have both condemned the bottle-throwing act. Borah stated, “We do not support or encourage violence of any kind. Our party believes in peaceful democratic protest. Whoever did this does not represent our ideology.”
Hussain, recalling a past attack on himself during a public event, added, “We were attacked but did not politicize the issue. The BJP should not misuse this incident to target opposition voices.”
Meanwhile, civil society groups have also raised concerns over the tightening of political freedoms in the state. Several activists have pointed out the need for transparency in police action and due legal process for the detained individuals.
Local police have confirmed that the matter is under active investigation and security arrangements for VVIP movements in the state are being reviewed.
This incident comes at a time when political friction in Assam is at an all-time high, with multiple protests, clashes, and accusations emerging from both ruling and opposition parties in recent months. With the state heading into local body elections later this year, observers believe such flashpoints may further deepen the political divide.