Assam: 100 writers demand proper treatment for Akhil Gogoi and co

The writers' community of Assam on Sunday wrote an open letter to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal demanding proper medical treatment for jailed peasant leader Akhil Gogoi and other activists who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are admitted to hospitals.

The community raised key concerns regarding the situation with Akhil Gogoi who has been tested positive recently for COVID-19. So far, reports have surfaced over not providing treatment to the peasant leader earlier.

Key-notes from the letter:

"Considering the fact that COVID test was done for Gogoi and his companions only after the agitation of people and the subsequent intervention of the court, the citizens are worried if fundamental constitutional and human rights of the political prisoners have been compromised".

The community also demanded the release of Akhil Gogoi.

"Akhil should be released, along with co-inmates and Debangana Kalita should be released from all the sanctions imposed by the state govt and the central govt. All CAA protestors and other political prisoners should get proper treatment. Prisoners coming in contact with COVID-19 patients should be tested. Request from the writer society that demands are accepted for humanitarian and constitutional safeguards"

The signatories to the letter include eminent writers are Nilamoni Phookan, Hiren Gohain, Prabhat Bora, Apurba Sarma, Gnan Pujari, Arupa Patangiya Kalita, Sameer Tanti along with Maushumi Kandali, Nilim Kumar, Ratna Bharali Talukdar, Jiban Narah, Kushal Dutta, Areendom Borkotoki, Kamal Kumar Tanti, Dalim Das, Ankur Ranjan Phukan, Maitrayee Patar, Kukil Saikia, Panchanan Hazarika, among others.

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.

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.