Special NIA court frames UAPA charges against Assam MLA Gogoi, others

Guwahati: A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Tuesday framed charges under Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Assam's Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi and three others in connection with the violent protests that took place in Assam in December 2019 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The three others charged are: Dhijya Konwar, Bitu Sonowal and Manash Konwar.

Gogoi's lawyer Santanu Borthakur said, "The charges against Gogoi have been framed under section 18 of UAPA (conspiracy to commit or prepare for terrorist act) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (hate speech) and 153B (statements prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code. Charges against the three others have been framed under 120B of IPC and 18 of UAPA."


In 2021, after almost one year and seven months, jailed Assam MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi was released after a special NIA court discharged him and three others of all charges in Guwahati.

Gogoi was charged under UAPA for leading a violent protest against CAA in December 2019. He was also accused of having alleged links with Maoists. Gogoi fought assembly election from Sivasagar constituency in 2021 from jail and won.

CAA seeks to fast forward citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists and Jains from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Gogoi has consistently denied any involvement in violence or terrorism and sees these charges as politically motivated to suppress his voice and his activism, particularly in relation to his opposition to the CAA.