From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : Assam leader MLA Akhil Gogoi has got relief from the National Investigation Agency court. Gogoi has been acquitted by the court in connection with his involvement in anti-CAA protests under UAPA. The verdict was pronounced by a national investigation agency court in Guwahati. Gogoi has been in jail in various cases since December 2019. It was only last year that he founded the Raijor Party and contested the recent assembly elections from Shibsagar assembly seat. He had won the election despite being in custody.
The National Investigation Agency had filed two cases against Akhil Gogoi. The NIA court today acquitted Akhil Gogoi of all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case registered at Chhabua police station. In April, he was acquitted in the case, but the central agency had again appealed. Gogoi was booked after he was accused of leading a crowd of about 600 people, which led to the killing of “economic blockade”, “stone pelting” and “a policeman on duty”. However, they will have to remain in judicial custody as another case was also taken up by nia, which is still pending.
During the CAA-protest, Akhil Gogoi had led a group of over 61 organisations in protest against the Act. Several cases were registered against him across Assam (Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Gaurisagar, Tok, Jorhat) after the violent protests. It may be recalled that Gogoi is undergoing treatment at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital after being infected with corona virus. Farmers’ organisation Kisan Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Tuesday staged a protest across Assam demanding the release of its leader Akhil Gogoi and withdrawal of the disputed Citizenship amended Act (CAA).
