RTI activist and leader of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Akhil Gogoi, along with some of his associates, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly violating Section 144 Cr.PC and his press meet stopped under the Representation of the People Act.
Kamrup (Metro) Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Chowdhury said Mr. Gogoi was detained for violating Section 144 Cr.PC after he and his associates gathered at Dighalipukhuri area to take out a procession on the eve of second phase of Assembly polls.
Section 144 was in force throughout the district and as such taking out a procession was a violation, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Gogoi's press meet at Guwahati Press Club was stopped as it amounted to violation of the model code of conduct, he said.
Mr. Gogoi, however, alleged that his detention and stopping of press conference was “politically motivated.”
“I am not a member of any political party and as such my holding a press conference does not violate the model code of conduct,” he said while being whisked away by the police.
Moreover, the press conference and subsequent procession was in support of Anna Hazare's fight against corruption and had nothing to do with elections, he claimed.
The ULFA anti-talk faction led by Paresh Barua in an email statement sent to the media has criticised Mr. Gogoi's detention.
IANS adds:
Mr. Gogoi was released later and the district administration apologised to him.
