GUWAHATI, March 19 � Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi was today arrested along with 30-odd supporters during a protest demonstration at Dispur Last Gate.
The KMSS was taking out a mass rally along with several other organizations of the city demanding land settlement rights (land patta) for the people living in the hills. Its other demand was to make public the Kar Commission inquiry report into the violence-marred protest at Dispur Last Gate last year in which a child died in police firing.
Gogoi said that the protesters were prevented from entering the demonstration site at Last Gate by police despite the fact that they had the administration�s prior permission for it.
�We even asked the police and administration officials present to allow a hundred of our members to carry on the protest as per the permission but instead we were shoved and pushed into a vehicle and taken to Basistha police station,� Gogoi said, adding that many of the protesters were earlier prevented from reaching Last Gate and detained at Bharalumukh, Garchuk, Geetanagar and Dispur police stations.
Police, on the other hand, said that the detention was necessary to prevent and a law-and-order situation, as a large number of protesters were trying to enter the area.
The protesters later staged a procession to Basistha police station demanding release of Gogoi and 30-odd supporters detained there. They were subsequently released.
Gogoi lodged an FIR against the City SSP and a City Police DSP (traffic). Police also lodged an FIR him.
