Assam: People’s Leader Akhil Gogoi & Other KMSS Members Granted Bail

Guwahati, March 26, 2020:

Assam Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi and other members -- Dhajya Konwar, Bitu Sonowal and Manas Konwar have been granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Guwahati on Thursday.

According to reports, the CJM Court granted bail to all the four leaders who were arrested following the massive protests in Assam after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Rajya Sabha, thereby passing the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Anti-CAA leader Akhil Gogoi, also known as People's Leader, along with Dhajya Konwar, Bitu Sonowal and Manas Konwar have been granted bail against a case registered in the Pan Bazar Police Station under the Crime Branch (0001/2020).

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Although they have been granted bail, it is yet to be known as to when the leaders will be released. It needs mention here that Akhil Gogoi was granted release on bail on March 17 but the Sivasagar and Chabua Police Stations filed cases against him.

Earlier, hours after peasant leader Akhil Gogoi was granted bail by a special court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Guwahati on March 17, Assam Police had appealed for shown arrest at the Sivasagar Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court.

The special court also declined to extend another period of 90 days to the NIA for filing the chargesheet. However, NIA had expressed disappointment with the court’s decision to grant bail to Gogoi and said that it would appeal against the court’s decision.

Advocate Jiaul Kamar appearing for Gogoi said, “The period of filing chargesheet by the NIA, which was of 90 days had expired and therefore, Akhil Gogoi has received the bail grant. Very soon, he will be released.”

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The NIA had slapped charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on the KMSS leader and also accused him of having links with Maoists.

Since December 2019, Gogoi has become an icon of resistance not only in Assam but across the country. Students, general public and other civil and social organisations had been constantly staging protests in demand of Gogoi’s release.

Gogoi’s stay at the Central Jail in Guwahati was marked by protests by his well-wishers, as his health started to deteriorate. Human rights activists also demanded his check up at some prominent hospital outside Guwahati. After judicial intervention, Gogoi was taken to the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, where it was discovered that he is suffering from ulcer-like formations in his stomach and kidney issues.

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