Akhil Gogoi, the MLA from Assam who was jailed since December 2019 under charges in two cases related to the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act violence in Assam in December 2019 has been freed after he was acquitted of the second case on Thursday.
President of the Raijor Dal, Gogoi, was discharged in the first case on June 25. And on Thursday, he was acquitted of the charges by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He had also spent last few months in the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital due to his weakened health.
Shantanu Borthakur, his advocate informed that three others arrested with Gogoi were also released on bail with Gogoi. Dharjya Konwar, Manas Konwar and Bittu Sonowal, the members happen to belong to various wings of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, founded by Mr. Gogoi himself.
He was booked under various cases filed under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Cofe and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA) for alleged criminal conspiracy, sedition, promoting enmity between groups on grounds such as religion, race and language, assertions against national integrity, and support to a “terrorist organisation”.
Gogoi was kept in jail for allegedly instigating violence during anti-CAA protests and for maintaining links with Maoists. Two FIRs were registered against Gogoi with the Chabua police station in Dibrugarh district and the Chandmari Police Station in Guwahati.
The activist turned politician, who is a representative of the Sibsagar Assembly constituency, talked to Journalists after his release and said, “The court has proven that the government’s charges against me were bogus. This is a historic day for the Indian judiciary.”
“A case was filed against me for my links with CPI [Maoist]. In another case, I was charged with inciting violence during the anti-CAA agitation. The court proved these were fake charges that kept me in jail for more than a year and a half,” he said.
“My focus will be on working for the development of my constituency besides opposing any anti-people policy the government tries to impose,” Gogoi said.
He criticized the BJP-led State government for “misusing” the UAPA and NIA. Gogoi also saif that this judgement would influence future cases, as well.
As soon as he was released, he went to visit the house of a school student who was among the 5 people killed in the anti-CAA violence in Guwahati, to express his solidarity with the parents of Sam Stafford, the boy who died during police firing.