A controversy has arisen over the death of a woman allegedly killed by her husband for “kissing” Rahul Gandhi on the cheek, but top police officials and local Congress MlAs have denied her presence during the Congress vice-president’s interaction with women party workers.
Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday interacted with a group of women on the issue of women empowerment in Jorhat, some 400 km from Guwahati. An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 women from various parts of the State had come for the interaction but eventually only 600 of them were shortlisted. The victim Bonti Chutia (35) of Bekajan village had also gone to attend the programme but she was not among those shortlisted for the interaction.
According to her neighbours as-well-as some of the women who attended the interaction, Bekajan Gaon Panchayat councillor Bonti Chutia (38) died after her jealous husband allegedly burnt her for planting a kiss on Rahul’s cheek during the interaction.
However, this has been denied by Jorhat district Superintendent of Police Amanjeet Kaur stating “Bonti was not present in the interaction with Rahul Gandhi at Kachari Maiden in Jorhat on February 26 evening. I have gone through the list of the 600 women who attended the interaction and Bonti Chutia’s name is not there. Her case is unrelated to Gandhi’s interaction with the women,” Kaur said.
Kaur said that it was not yet clear if the woman committed suicide by setting herself ablaze or the man set fire to her. “It was also not clear as to how the man got burnt,” she said. Apparently, the incident was caused by family feud. There is no clarity as yet because we haven’t been able to take the statement of the man. He had sustained over 35 per cent burn injuries. We’re trying to take the statement of the couple’s minor son,” Kaur told The Pioneer.
local MlA and Congress General Secretary Rana Goswami and APCC chief spokesman Mehdi Alam Bora told the media that enquiries at the party level from its district and local units revealed that Bhonti did not attend the meeting.
“Video footages show that she was not present in the interaction. All those who attended the meeting entered only with security cards issued by the SPG and Bonti’s name is not there. Her death has no connection with Rahul Gandhi”, Congress chief spokesman Bora said.
However, Bonti Chutia’s neighbours claimed on television channels that on her return home, her husband Someswar Chutia (44) had an argument with her as he was against her going for the interaction and was unhappy on seeing her on television channels hugging and kissing Gandhi.
When the news of Bonti kissing Gandhi attracted wide publicity in the area the next day, the neighbours alleged her husband got furious, fought with her and locked her up in a room.
later, he set her ablaze after pouring kerosene on her, they alleged. Someswar also got burnt as Bonti tried to save herself and the couple had a scuffle; the people claimed. According to police sources, Bonti died of 95 per cent burn injuries in Jorhat Medical College Hospital last evening. Her husband, who was also admitted to the hospital with her, was shifted to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh in a critical condition.
The neighbours also alleged that Someswar was against Bonti joining politics and this had led to frequent clashes between them. During the interaction, telecast live in the local news channels, a few of the women present were seen hugging and kissing the Gandhi scion in a show of their love, affection and support for him leaving the young Congress leader embarrassed.