Gauhati High Court rejects jailed peasant leader Akhil Gogoi's bail plea

GUWAHATI:

The Gauhati High Court, on Thursday, rejected jailed peasant leader and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) activist Akhil Gogoi’s bail plea.

Gogoi was arrested amid statewide protests against the contentious CAA in December 2019 and has been in jail since then, booked in multiple cases including charges of sedition and provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The High Court heard the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader’s bail plea in the case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Chandmari police station.

Gogoi was earlier granted bail by a special NIA court in one of the two cases in connection with his alleged role in the violent protests against the Act in Assam.

“Now we have no option but to appeal before the Supreme Court,” the lawyer representing Gogoi said.

“We are yet to get the judgment copy and hence don’t know the reason for the bail plea rejection. Without the judgment copy we cannot comment now,” he said.

Meanwhile, the High Court’s rejection of the peasant leader’s bail plea has angered his supporters and wellwishers across the state, even as the clamour for his release from jail has grown over the past few months.

Members of Raijor Dal, the regional political party floated by KMSS and several like-minded groups and indigenous organisations, staged a protest in Moran in Upper Assam after the Court’s ruling on Thursday morning.

Venting their anger against the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government, members of the party alleged that the incumbent government had “murdered democracy” and that it was a “black day” for all Assamese.

“We have faith in the rule of law. We will go to the Supreme Court and at the same time intensify our agitation for his release,” said one of the party members.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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