The Citizen Action Party (CAP) has strongly condemned the brutal attack on Ashish Rai, President of the All Sikkim Drivers Welfare Council, calling it a direct assault on democracy and the voice of the working class. Rai, a well-known advocate for drivers’ rights, was attacked by masked assailants late Sunday night at his rented home in Rongey. He sustained critical injuries to his head and knees and is currently undergoing treatment at STNM Hospital in an unconscious state.
The CAP, in its official statement, alleged that Rai’s activism — particularly his outspoken stance on poor road conditions and drivers’ welfare — made him a target. “This was not just an attack on an individual but a warning to all who dare to speak for the voiceless,” the party said.
Police have launched an investigation, but the motive remains unknown. CAP, however, warned that continued silence from the state government would suggest complicity. “Justice must prevail, or the people will assume that this was a state-backed act of suppression,” the party added.
