Disgruntled Congmen ransack party office

GUWAHATI, April 24: Internal squabbles in Congress took a turn for the worse with a section of disgruntled Congress workers from West Guwahati area led by one Prasanta Malla Bujarbaruah resorted vendalism at the party headquarter, Rajiv Bhawan, here today. About 200 angry Congressmen who bayed for blood of certain senior APCC leaders for "irregularities" in selection of party nominees, swooped down on the APCC headquarter forcing several senior Congressmen present there to run for safety. The mob went on rampage destroying property in the APCC headquarter besides burning down publicity materials sent by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for use in the electioneering. At least two senior APCC leaders, general secretary, JK Jain and the political secretary to the APCC president, Sirajul Hussain Saikia who found themselves amid the mob, had a miraculous escape. The mob broke window panes and office furniture. A fire engine had to be called to douse the burning heap of election materials including campaign tools. Sources in the APCC informed that the party later lodged a complaint with the police against the Congress leader Prasanta Malla Bujarbaruah who was denied party ticket, for today's incident. The incident occurred at a time when AICC leader and member of the Central Election Committee, Jagdish Tytler is camping at posh hotel in the city to manage the crisis the Congress. Tytler later in the day issued no appeal to all Congressmen who have submitted nominations as Independent candidate to withdraw their nominations on or before April 26. He stated that Congress workers who are in the fray as Independent candidates after April 26 will be expelled from the party.