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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 23 April 2024

A word for Akhil Gogoi’s release

A team of Dibrugarh police has reached Sivasagar and might rearrest Akhil as soon as he is released

Kongkon Bora And Mohsin Khaiyam Guwahati Published 31.03.20, 06:38 PM
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti adviser Akhil Gogoi

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti adviser Akhil Gogoi Telegraph picture

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi was granted bail in the Chabua police station case by Dibrugarh High Court but as hearing on another case at the same police station is still pending, he might be rearrested.

The KMSS leader was granted bail on in the case (no 290/19) of the Chabua police station in Dibrugarh district but the hearing of another case (no 289/19) of the same police station is still pending and the hearing for this case will be held on Wednesday.

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The bail order is also not yet produced at the Sivasagar jail where Akhil is lodged at present.

A team of Dibrugarh police has reached Sivasagar and might re-arrest Akhil as soon as he is released.

Leader of the Opposition of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, reacting to this move, said the government seems to be unable to “forgive” the peasant leader and anti-CAA activist for his alleged opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Saikia said he condemned the Assam government’s “relentless attempts” to keep the KMSS leader behind bars even at the cost of flouting the manifest will of various courts of law, including the Supreme Court.

He added, “In view of the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court has favoured grant of bail and even parole to detainees and, accordingly, 722 prisoners have been released in Assam alone. However, the government of Assam is clearly adopting a contrary policy so far as Akhil Gogoi is concerned. It seems the government is unable to forgive him for opposing the contentious CAA and is blatantly pursuing an agenda of vendetta.”

He added that the government is not prosecuting Akhil, but rather is “persecuting” him.

Saikia said Akhil was granted bail in the case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as the investigative agency had failed to come up with sufficient evidence against the KMSS leader even after 90 days of incarceration and investigation.

He has by now secured bail in various cases filed by the crime branch, Sivasagar police and Dibrugarh police.

He termed this “attitude” of the state government as not only undemocratic, but is tantamount to contempt of court, in his opinion.

He demanded that Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who holds the home portfolio, should immediately instruct officials of all relevant police stations to forthwith desist from harassing Akhil and also instruct Sivasagar police to escort him to his home with due health-care precautions in view of the ongoing lockdown.

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