Akhil Gogoi Supporters' 'Jail Bharo' Plan, Dispur Police Arrest Protesters

Guwahati: Dispur Police on Saturday (January 30) arrested few people from the Ganeshguri area of the city. The people had gathered near the Ganesh Mandir in Ganeshguri to stage a protest demanding unconditional release of jailed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi. They were planning to stage a 'Jail Bharo' agitation.

Some of the protesters had come in from Nagaon, about 122 kms outside Guwahati. The protesters included supporters and members of Raijor Dal, the recently launched political party whose president is Akhil Gogoi. The party was formed when Akhil Gogoi was still in jail.

Joint Commissioner of Police, Debaraj Upadhyay, who was present at the spot, said that no permission was given to anyone to stage any kind of protest in the Ganeshguri area. The police received information that some people would gather to stage protest seeking release of Akhil Gogoi.

Upadhyay further said that the police are also conscius about the fact that such protests disrupt traffic and cause a lot of inconvenience to the public. He said that people can protest with proper permission from the concerned authorities.

Akhil Gogoi was arrested in December 2019 for allegedy inciting violence during the anti-CAA agitations across Assam. Though he was arredted by Assam Police, Gogoi's case (at least four cases were registered against him) was later handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA). He has been granted bail in three of the four cases by the Gauhati High Court.

Interestingly, speaking to the media recently, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that Akhil Gogoi was arrested for his alleged links with Maoists and not for inciting violence during the anti-CAA protests.

"Akhil Gogoi was arrested not for CAA movement. National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him for Maoist links. Akhil Gogoi was arrested for inviting Maoist or terrorist forces to Assam. His arrest has no connection with anti-CAA movement," Sarma had said after Akhil Gogoi's bail plea was rejected by Gauhati High Court on Thursday, January 7.

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