Guwahati, Jul 7: Assam’s Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the MLA from Dharmapur, Nilamani Sen Deka, said the attack carried out against RTI activist and Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi on Friday was planned by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and not by him. “AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary, who fought the last elections against me, is responsible for the attack,” he said.

The incident occurred after Gogoi had gone to Purni village in Dharmapur area of Nalbari district to see the grim flood situation. He was attacked with sticks and sharp weapons and was left critically injured, police said. He was admitted to Nalbari Civil Hospital.

The activist later filed an FIR at the Nalbari police station accusing six youth Congress activists who, according to him, carried out the action at the behest of Deka. Gogoi, who is the Secretary General of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), also suffered head injuries. The police have launched an investigation into the case.

However, the injured KMSS leader said the local administration failed to give him security and refused to leave Nalbari district till the culprits were arrested. The assailants had also snatched away cameras of journalist Ajit Barman, it was learnt. The Nalbari district unit of the KMSS has called a dawn-to-dusk bandh on Saturday. The outfit condemned the assault on Gogoi and sought immediate arrest of the guilty. “We will start statewide agitation if the culprits are not punished,” it said.

The KMSS also had accused Deka of the incident and demanded the minister’s resignation.

Later on Friday night, a Congress councillor was arrested for the attack. Reports said the arrested man is Tapan Barman.