Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said he has filed a civil defamation case seeking Rs500 crore in damages against senior Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi.

The chief minister accused the three leaders of making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against him during a press conference held in Guwahati last week.

In a post on X on Tuesday afternoon, Sarma said he has approached the court over what he described as baseless accusations levelled against him in the public domain.

“Today, I have filed a defamation case seeking Rs500 crore in damages against Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Gaurav Gogoi for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against me through a press conference,” Sarma wrote.

The legal action follows the Assam Congress’s launch of a website titled “Who Is HBS” on February 4, along with the circulation of a pamphlet accusing the chief minister of corruption, misuse of power and disrespect towards cultural icons.

The website, which sought details of Sarma’s alleged assets, was later allegedly hacked after its launch.

Congress leaders had also claimed that the chief minister and his family owned around 12,000 bighas, or nearly 4,000 acres, of land, alleging that rules were manipulated to convert agricultural land into industrial land.

Sources said the defamation case has been initiated at the Kamrup District Civil Court, with further proceedings currently underway.

Meanwhile, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday lodged a police complaint at Dispur Police Station against the BJP and Sarma, alleging misuse of artificial intelligence to malign Gaurav Gogoi and targeting Muslims through a now-deleted video referred to as the “point blank shot” clip.

APCC senior spokesperson Gopal Sarma alleged that the BJP was engaging in what he described as “the worst kind of colonisation of politics” in Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. He also claimed that an AI-generated video was circulated portraying a person from a religious minority as Gogoi.

Responding to the police complaint, Sarma said he would continue speaking openly and was not intimidated by legal action.

“It is good that they have filed the case. What does communal mean? You all know who I am against,” the chief minister said.

“For me, white is white and black is black. They cannot frighten me. Anyone can file a case against me,” he added.

The video in question, posted on Saturday, was deleted following a political backlash. Sarma had on Monday said he was unaware of the video.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday trained his guns on the Congress after sharing a video of a confrontation in the Lok Sabha, terming the conduct of Opposition MPs as the “most degrading behaviour” and warning that the incident could have escalated into a physical clash.

The video relates to proceedings on February 4, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lower House.

According to Rijiju, several women Congress MPs moved close to the Prime Minister’s designated seat in an attempt to block his entry and directly confront him. He claimed the situation was defused only after BJP MPs were restrained from engaging with the protesting members.

In a post accompanying the footage, Rijiju alleged that the Opposition’s actions posed a serious threat to the dignity of Parliament. He said the BJP leadership had issued clear instructions to ensure no physical confrontation took place, despite what he described as provocation from Opposition MPs.

The minister further questioned how such conduct could be justified inside the House, reiterating that maintaining the sanctity of parliamentary proceedings was the government’s priority.

What the video shows

The video shared by Rijiju shows women MPs standing around the Prime Minister’s chair in the Lok Sabha, holding banners and posters and refusing to vacate the area despite repeated requests.

Two to three Union ministers, including Ashwini Vaishnaw and Giriraj Singh, are seen in close conversation with the protesting MPs, urging them to return to their seats and avoid what Rijiju described as “unparliamentary behaviour”. The MPs, however, continue to hold their ground.

Rijiju later described the episode as an unprecedented stand-off during the Motion of Thanks debate, claiming that the House could have turned into a “battleground” had the situation not been handled tactfully.

Speaker’s intervention and outcome

The developments prompted intervention from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. On Thursday, Birla said he had requested the Prime Minister not to enter the House to prevent any unpleasant incident, citing information that some Congress MPs might approach the Prime Minister’s seat and create an unprecedented situation.

Eventually, the Motion of Thanks was passed on February 4 without Prime Minister Modi delivering his reply in the Lok Sabha.

Fresh violence broke out in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in the commercial town of Litan, leading to arson and large-scale evacuation of residents.

According to police, at least 25 houses and four government quarters were set ablaze during the clashes that erupted late on Sunday night at Litan Bazar. A preliminary assessment also found that two of the damaged houses belonged to members of the Kuki community.

Heavy security deployment, evacuation underway

Residents said the situation remained tense but calm for the moment following the deployment of additional security forces. Evacuation is continuing in Litan and the neighbouring village of Mangkot, with families moving out amid fears of further escalation.

The violence reportedly occurred between 11:30 pm and midnight, when sounds of automatic gunfire and rifle shots were heard, triggering panic among locals. Many residents were seen fleeing the area in pickup trucks, private vehicles and on foot, carrying essential belongings and household items.

Personnel from the Litan police station assisted in facilitating safe movement of civilians while maintaining law and order. Officials said the affected areas were secured by personnel from the BSF, CRPF and Assam Rifles, with reinforcements sent to prevent further incidents.

Curfew imposed in Litan village

In view of the unrest, the Ukhrul District Magistrate imposed a curfew in Litan village on Sunday evening. The order cited apprehension of a breach of peace and public tranquillity between the two communities, along with risks to life and property.

Police said the immediate trigger for the violence was a drunken altercation on the evening of February 7 at Litan Sareikhong. During the incident, a Tangkhul Naga man, identified as Sterling, was allegedly assaulted and later shifted to a hospital in Imphal for treatment.

Litan, located around 35 km from Imphal, is home to both Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities and serves as a key trading centre for nearby villages. Officials noted that the town’s mixed population and closely linked market and residential zones contributed to the sensitivity of the situation.

Chief Minister visits injured, appeals for calm

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital to inquire about the condition of those injured in the violence. He was accompanied by state BJP president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and other MLAs.

During the visit, the Chief Minister interacted with doctors and hospital authorities and reviewed the medical care being provided. The state government assured that all necessary medical treatment and support would be extended to those affected and their families.

Describing the incident as arising out of a misunderstanding, the Chief Minister said the situation was under control and urged all communities to exercise restraint.

“I appeal to all communities to uphold the rule of law and maintain peace and harmony. I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” he said.

Police confirmed that an FIR has been registered and investigations are ongoing. Authorities said security forces remain deployed and the situation is being closely monitored.