Jorhat, Aug. 6: Supporters of the Congress legislator from Mariani, Rupjyoti Kurmi, today blocked National Highway 37 for nearly an hour and ransacked a Tata Motors showroom to protest against alleged manhandling of the MLA by a few employees of the showroom.

Police sources said Kurmi had come to the showroom, located in Pulibor area here, around 2pm to collect his vehicle, a Tata Grande, which he had given for servicing about a week ago.

However, the showroom authorities declined to hand over the vehicle to him and said the financier of the vehicle, Tata Motors Finance, had directed them to do so until the MLA clears the pending loan instalments, which amounts to over Rs 1 lakh.

The MLA had a heated argument with the authorities of the showroom. He then contacted his supporters at Mariani over phone, who came in droves and blocked National Highway 37.

The mob also threw stones at the showroom and damaged its glass wall and four vehicles parked inside.

The situation was brought under control following the intervention of Jorhat MLA Rana Goswami and deputy commissioner R.C. Jain, who arrived to pacify the MLA and his supporters. Kurmi claimed that he was manhandled by a few employees of the showroom.

The authorities of the Tata showroom, however, denied manhandling the MLA, and said at least three personal security officers were accompanying Kurmi when he arrived at the showroom.

“It is totally a false allegation,” said an employee of the showroom.

No party has registered a police complaint in this regard.

Sources said both the parties were trying to settle the matter. The owner of the showroom is a friend of chief minister Tarun Gogoi.