In a disturbing turn of events, miscreants launched an attack on the Congress party office in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi just ahead of the third phase of voting in India's Lok Sabha elections. The incident, which occurred at midnight on Sunday, saw several cars vandalized and the party office ransacked, as reported by various Indian media outlets.

According to reports, the Congress district president Pradeep Singhal rushed to the party office immediately after the attack, where Congress workers staged a protest. Youth Congress leader Shubham Singh was also reportedly targeted during the assault.

An FIR has been filed against eight individuals, including two BJP leaders, in connection with the incident. Congress has pointed fingers at BJP candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani, alleging her involvement in orchestrating the attack. Additional police forces have been deployed to the scene to prevent further escalation.

Congress workers have claimed that the assailants fled the area following the incident, leaving behind a trail of damaged vehicles and broken furniture at the party office. In a social media post, Congress criticized Smriti Irani and BJP workers, accusing them of resorting to violence out of fear of defeat in the upcoming elections.

A video shared by Congress on social media purportedly shows the aftermath of the attack, highlighting the damage caused to cars belonging to ordinary citizens. Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinath also shared the video, calling attention to the silence of the police regarding the incident.

The incident adds a layer of tension to the electoral landscape of Amethi, where Congress has faced delays in announcing its candidates. Notably, Kishori Lal Singh, a longstanding figure close to the Gandhi family, is contesting for Congress in Amethi, while Rahul Gandhi has opted to contest from Rae Bareli, signaling a shift in strategy for the party.