Breaking: Assam Peasant Leader Akhil Gogoi Sent to 14-Days Judicial Custody

Guwahati, December 26, 2019:

Assam peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, who was earlier arrested on the charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has been sent to a 14-days judicial custody on Thursday.

The court had also rejected the petition of the NIA, demanding another 10-days custody. He will be lodged in Guwahati Central Jail in Lalmati.

It may be mentioned here that the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader was flown in on Wednesday in a discreet manner and two teams of the NIA officials raided Gogoi’s residence in Guwahati’s Chandmari and Gandhibasti areas respectively.

ALSO READ: NIA Raids Peasant Leader Akhil Gogoi’s Residence, Seizes NHPC & Other Important Files

The officials seized files related to government activities such as the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a private channel owned by a politician and RTI, besides PAN Card, passbook and other bank details.

Akhil Gogoi’s wife, Gitashree Tamuly said that the officials were also looking for files related to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The NIA had arrested the peasant leader on December 16 from Jorhat district. The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader was arrested amid massive protests across Assam against the Citizenship Act. He was leading the protests in many of the Upper Assam districts.

ALSO READ: Akhil Gogoi's Mother Priyada Leads Protests against CAA at Her Residence

Gogoi, who was booked under the Unlawful Assembly Prevention Act (UAPA) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was accused of being involved in “terror activities” and using the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to promote enmity among different groups in Assam that was against national integration. He was also accused of having links with the Maoists.

Akhil Gogoi, while he was taken away by the NIA officials, said, “This is a conspiracy to mislead the people of Assam.” It may be mentioned here that he has been critical of the government’s move since the development related to the citizenship exercise.

ALSO READ: JNU Students Gherao Assam Bhawan in Delhi Demanding Akhil Gogoi's Release, Several Detained

Gitashree Tamuly, when queried about Akhil Gogoi’s NIA case, replied, “I have never seen Akhil engaging himself in terror-related activities. So, they can’t prove the charges levelled against him unless they manipulate the evidences.”

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