Farmers’ leader arrested over self-immolation

The Guwahati police on Sunday arrested Krishak Mutki Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader and Right to Information activist Akhil Gogoi from his Nizarapar residence on charges of “abetment to commit suicide” and “criminal conspiracy” in connection with the February 24 self-immolation by a KMSS activist in front of the Secretariat during a protest for land rights.

The police also arrested five KMSS activists.

They were remanded in police custody for four days by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, which rejected their bail applications.

Mr. Gogoi’s lawyer, Bijan Mahajan, told journalists that the police sought their custody for 10 days.

The police went to Mr Gogoi’s residence in the early hours.

As he did not respond, they broke open the lock of the entrance gate in the presence of a magistrate around 4 a.m.

“My house is gheraoed by police forces at 12.45 pm now. Trying to break doors,” Mr. Gogoi said in an SMS to The Hindu .

Senior Superintendent of Police A.P. Tiwari told journalists that Mr. Gogoi was arrested under non-bailable Sections 306 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code.

Mr. Tiwari said the police had gathered evidence against Mr. Gogoi and the other KMSS activists and needed them in custody for interrogation to proceed with the investigation.

The police were on the look-out for three more KMSS activists.

The arrest came a day after Mr. Gogoi vowed to revive the KMSS movement for land rights for the landless in the city after March 9, when Adya Sraddha of Pranab Boro, who committed self-immolation, is scheduled to take place.

Mr Gogoi denied the allegation that Boro was instigated to immolate himself.

He vowed to launch a campaign to oust the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government from power.

Protest by supporters

Though Mr. Tiwari did not divulge the evidence the police claimed to have collected against Mr. Gogoi, police sources said a vehicle, allegedly used to drop Boro in front of the Secretariat, was seized.

The arrests sparked protest by KMSS activists and supporters in different parts of the State.

They demanded unconditional release of the arrested leaders.