GUWAHATI, June 24 � City Police today arrested Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi in connection with the June 22 Dispur incident, in which three persons were killed and several others, including senior police officers and staff, sustained injuries and scores of public and private vehicles were either burnt down or damaged.
The Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, remanded Gogoi to three days� police custody later today.
The agitators, who are settlers of the city�s Government land, including the hills and wetlands, gathered at the Dispur Supermarket point that day in support of their demand for land settlement rights to them at the places where they are living for years together, at the joint call of the KMSS and the Brihattar Guwahati Mati Pattan Dabi Samiti.
Additional Superintendent of City Police Longnit Terang arrested Akhil Gogoi when he was addressing news persons at the Guwahati Press Club, around 2-34 pm in presence of Circle Officer Pulak Mahanta, who is also an executive magistrate. Gogoi was then taken to the Panbazar Police Station for completing the formalities.
Following his arrest, around 30 of his supporters along with his wife and some other relatives, tried to force their entry to the Panbazar Police Station by breaking the police barricade. The police led his wife to the police station, amidst the shouting of slogans by his supporters and relatives.
His supporters and relatives later blocked the road by squatting in front of the MMC Hospital. Subsequent to this incident, the district administration of Kamrup (Metro) declared prohibitory orders throughout the district, under section 144 of the Cr PC, preventing assembly of more than four persons at any public place.
Police is learnt to have been planning to shift Gogoi to the Fourth Assam Police Battalion camp at Kahilipara this evening for questioning.
It needs mention here that in connection with the June 22 Dispur incident, a case (No 1259/2011) has been registered with the Dispur Police Station under sections 143, 144, 146, 147 (which are bailable) of the Cr PC, 333 (for obstructing Government officers on duty), 339, 353 (for inciting violence) of the IPC, and 427 and 436 (both for damaging public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The case is lodged by the Officer-in-Charge of Dispur PS Manik Kalita.
Immediately after his arrest, Akhil Gogoi said that attempts would be made to poison him in the prison. Earlier, he was reiterating his allegation that it was the police action that triggered the June 22 turmoil by the agitators, who had assembled at Dispur to raise their demand for land rights in a peaceful manner.
Significantly, Akhil Gogoi, contrary to his previous records, advanced the time of the press conference, which was scheduled for 3 pm, by 38 minutes. But he was stopped midway by Additional SP Terang and hauled off to the Panbazar Police Station.
