GUWAHATI, March 2 � Six members of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), including its president Akhil Gogoi, were today remanded to four days in police custody after they were arrested in the wee hours in a dramatic fashion in connection with the Pranab Boro self-immolation case.
The arrests were made on the basis of a First Information Report lodged by a sub-inspector of the City Police. Akhil Gogoi and his associates are facing charges under Section 306 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code.
Three more FIRs that were filed subsequently were treated as general diary entries and later attached to the main FIR.
The police sought 14 days so that �they are thoroughly interrogated to find out the real truth behind the incident.�
At the time of the arrests, there were allegations of the police manhandling those arrested and their relatives and of damage being caused to property. This complaint was made before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Guwahati), by Akhil Gogoi�s wife.
The CJM treated it as a complaint and remanded the case to the Court of the Additional CJM, Kamrup, Guwahati, and directed Akhil Gogoi�s wife to appear before the court at 10 am tomorrow for carrying out further proceedings in the matter.
Meanwhile, the court, after hearing advocate Bijon Mahajan and his associates who appeared on behalf of Akhil Gogoi and his colleagues, reduced the police prayer of custody to four days and also directed that the accused be provided with home-cooked food, and medical treatment, and that no physical or psychological torture be meted out to them as per the directives of the BK Basu vs State of West Bengal case wherein several guidelines were given by the apex court as to how those arrested should be treated.
�Now Akhil Gogoi and his associates will be produced before the court on March 6 and on that day, further applications for bail may be moved on behalf of Akhil Gogoi and five others,� advocate Bijon Mahajan told this reporter.
The State of Assam was represented by public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar.
Earlier today, Akhil Gogoi was arrested from his Nizarapar residence by a team of police accompanied by magistrate Chinmoy Phukan around 4 am. Police also resorted to blank firing in the Lisubagan area when they went to arrest Deben Sarma, KMSS city committee president.
The other members of the KMSS were also arrested simultaneously, who include Ibrahim Ali, Nurul Islam, Hareswar Kalita and Naren Baishya.
Police also recovered a red car bearing registration number AS-01-AW 2011 in which Pranab Boro was reportedly dropped near the State Secretariat a few minutes before he set himself on fire, leading to his death in the GMCH. Boro, a KMSS activist, was staging a protest, demanding land pattas in hill and forest areas.
Forensic experts were seen working on the vehicle to find traces of evidence. However, the police are yet to disclose the name of the person who owns the car.
Senior SP (City) Anand Prakash Tiwari told media persons that primary investigation into the case has necessitated custodial interrogation of the accused.
�In the interest of the administration and the citizens of Guwahati, the arrests were made in the wee hours. We are looking for another three accused who are at present on the run,� Tiwari said.
