DIBRUGARH, Aug 17 � Spontaneous protests were seen from different quarters of the city here in support of Anna Hazare and his campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill in the country.
BJP activists led by former Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda Sonowal and local MLA Prasanta Phukan marched from their office in Amolapatty to Thana Chariali, condemning the arrest of Anna Hazare and demanding a strong ant-corruption bill. BJP members courted arrest near the Sadar Police Station but were released later.
The district committee of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) also took out a procession in support of Anna Hazare from Phool Bagan and courted arrest near Thana Chariali. A group of senior citizens and members from Nagarik Sangha too courted arrest along with other protesters. All the arrested were released later.
Students from DHSK College also staged demonstration in front of the gate of the college in support of Anna Hazare. While condemning the rising corruption in the governments at the Centre and the State, the students demanded a strong law to deal with corruption.
Teachers and students from the Dibrugarh University also assembled to show solidarity for the cause spearheaded by Hazare. The teaching fraternity and the students staged demonstration by taking out a procession within the DU campus, also comprising the NH 37 and the housing area, and later held a protest meet inside the campus.
Our Correspondents add:
Jorhat: Thousands of protesters came out spontaneously in support of Anna Hazare here as well. They staged protest programmes in various places of the town. More than a thousand protesters led by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today took out a procession from Jorhat Stadium and staged a protest rally in front of DC office here protesting against the arrest of Anna. Later, police arrested the protesters and kept them at the police reserve. The arrested people were freed in the afternoon.
Asom Gana Parishad activists here burnt the effigy of the Prime Minister protesting against the arrest of Anna Hazare. The lawyers of the Jorhat Bar Association also staged a protest programme on the same issue.
Nagaon: In support of Hazare's movement, agitational programmes were witnessed in Nagaon as well. The Nagaon Bar Association members observed a two-hour sit-in demonstration today and demanded passing of the bill with amendments suggested by civil society members. Its president Mahesh Das, general secretary Paran Guhain and other members took part in the agitation.
KMSS, Sadou Asam Gramin Shramik Santha, Pragatisheel Nari Santha, MASS and Asam Yuba Santha came out in a procession and demonstrated in front of DC office expressing support for Anna.
KMSS central president Raju Bara, working president Mulan Laskar, general secretary Bedanta Laskar were also present in the programme.
Bongaigaon: Local organisations and student bodies took out a mammoth rally in support of Anna Hazare this evening in Bongaigaon town area. AASU took out a bicycle rally. Through these rallies, the people of the locality showed their solidarity towards the call given by Anna Hazare to fight the rampant corruption plaguing the nation.
