Assam woman who attended Rahul event dies of burn injuries, police say she’s not the one who kissed him

The police confirmed the woman attended Rahul's session, but did not get close to the leader

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi being planted a kiss by a woman during an event in Guwahati on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi being kissed by a woman during an event in Assam on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

Amid reports that a 35-year-old woman, who kissed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at an interactive session during his recent Assam trip, was allegedly burnt to death by her husband, the police said Saturday “she was nowhere close to Rahul during the function”.

However, the police confirmed that the woman, who belonged to a panchayat under Titabor constituency — represented Assam CM Tarun Gogoi — was at the event.

Bonti Chutia, a panchayat ward member from the Congress under Titabor sub-division in Jorhat, sustained burn injuries Wednesday, and died in Jorhat Medical College Hospital a day later. Local reports claimed her husband, Someswar Chutia, set her on fire because she kissed Rahul during the event.

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However, Kulendra Deka, sub-divisional police officer of Titabor, said, “The woman died due to burn injuries, but we do not have any report of her husband setting her on fire. Nor do we have any complaint or witness stating the same. We have checked the video of Rahul’s session and found that she was nowhere close to him throughout the function.”

Two women had kissed Rahul before security personnel stepped in and prevented anyone else from coming close.

Deka said the woman’s husband is also in the hospital with over 60 per cent burn injuries.

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