‘Undemocratic detention’: Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi demands Akhil’s immediate release

Former three-time Assam Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on July 8^th, 2020 demanded the immediate release of the RTI activists and the KMSS (Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti) leader Akhil Gogoi and others.

“Detention of Akhil Gogoi and others is undemocratic, unlawful, violation of democratic rights. We are urging the Government to release them immediately,” Gogoi tweeted.

The octogenarian leader also expressed concern over the ill health of the peasants’ leader. He demanded the government to take appropriate action to provide him best treatment.

Also read: Will request authority to take good care of Akhil Gogoi: Assam DGP on peasant leader’s ailing health concerns

On July 6th, 2020, Assam Director-General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that the concerned authority would be requested to take good care of Akhil Gogoi, who has reportedly developed some COVID-19 symptoms in jail.

Addressing a press conference here in Guwahati, the DGP said, “The Deputy Commissioner or the health department will have the exact information about his health condition. We will definitely do the needful for his treatment if we get informed by the authority regarding any health issue.”

Also read: Akhil Gogoi’s wife pens down emotional Facebook post after he develops COVID-19 symptoms

Akhil Gogoi was arrested on 12th Dec 2019, from Jorhat, sent to NIA custody for 10 days in Delhi, and taken back and lodged in Guwahati Central Jail since 26th Dec. KMSS Secretary Dhaijya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal, President of Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti, a popular democratic student org in Assam, were arrested on 13th Dec and lodged in Guwahati Central Jail. On 7th Jan, both of them were tagged in the same fake UAPA case with Akhil Gogoi and are currently in NIA custody in Kamrup district. Manas Konwar was arrested on 13th Dec, released later and re-arrested from NIA Court, Guwahati, Assam towards the end of January 2020 being slapped with similar charges under UAPA. Earlier, the NIA failed to file a charge sheet within the mandatory 90 days, which warranted Akhil’s release but he was immediately arrested for other cases.

Akhil Gogoi had secured bail in three other cases under Sivasagar PS, Dibrugarh PS and Guwahati Crime Branch, but to maintain his custody, frivolous charges are being pressed again, a recent one of 28th May where Akhil is charged of ‘torching a Circle office, a post office and a Bank in Chabua’ on 12th December.

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.