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

Guwahati, December 26, 2019:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Thursday arrived at the residence of peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, who was leading the Citizenship Act protests in Assam, and seized some important files related to government activities.

A team of NIA officials raided the residence of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader’s residence on Thursday morning and seized files related to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a private channel owned by a politician besides PAN Card, passbook and other bank details.

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Akhil Gogoi’s wife, Gitashree Tamuly said that the officials were also looking for files related to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “One of the officials asked me as to why we held the Andolans right before the arrival of Japan’s Prime Minister. I told them that nobody really urged the public of Assam to come out and protest,” she said, adding that the public took to the streets for their rights.

“They took away the NHPC file, bank’s credit-deposit details, a file with NEWS LIVE label on it and a journal that he maintained during his term in jail earlier,” Gitashree told journalists.

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She informed that Akhil Gogoi had maintained a journal in Assamese language. He had written about his experience while he was in jail earlier. He had also written about the jail inmates he met. “I requested them to let us keep a copy of the journal as Akhil wanted to turn it into a book but they refused,” said Akhil Gogoi’s wife.

During the raid, land documents related to Kaziranga Biodiversity Park, PAN Card, Passbook, etc. were also seized, Besides, a laptop was also taken away by the NIA. “The laptop which they seized belonged to KMSS and had all the details related to Big Dam, Right to Information and other documents related to the organisation,” she informed.

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It may be mentioned here that peasant leader Akhil Gogoi was arrested by Assam Police and then they handed him over to the NIA on December 16. He was arrested amid the rising protests across Assam against the Citizenship Act. Gogoi had been opposing the CAA since the very beginning and he has been demanding the scrapping of the contentious legislation. Students, youth, elderly people from all walks of life were unitedly opposing the implementation of the Act in Assam as it threatens the rights of the indigenous people.

Gogoi’s arrest has been observed as a conspiracy. While the NIA was taking him to their custody, Akhil Gogoi said, “This is a conspiracy to mislead the people of Assam.” He has been critical of the government’s move since the development related to the citizenship exercise.

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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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