Akhil Gogoi arrested for allegedly inciting violence in Kaziranga eviction

GUWAHATI: Member of erstwhile disbanded Team Anna and peasant leader Akhil Gogoi was arrested on Sunday for allegedly inciting mob during the recent eviction drive near UNESCO’s world heritage site, Kaziranga National park in which two people were killed and several were injured.

Akhil was arrested while he was addressing media persons in Guwahati. Akhil was wanted in a case of provoking protests against eviction on September 19. Akhil is President of peasant organization, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).

There were clashes between police and settlers on September 19. Police had to fire to disperse protestors.

Soon after his arrest Akhil was taken to Chandmari police station in Guwahati. There were cases registered against him in Nagaon. He was taken to Nagaon where is supporters are protesting demanding unconditional release.

Police will produce Akhil in the court on Monday. Gogoi has been arrested under section 120, 120B, 147, 148,149, 307 and 435 of the IPC.
In the eviction drive around 331 houses were demolished.

Following the Gauhati High court order, BJP led government had carry out eviction in Banderdubi and Deochurchang areas under Kaliabor sub-division of Nagaon.Assam police DIG, Akilesh Singh said that Akhil is being interrogated.Assam’s forest minister Parmila Rani Brahma had alleged Akhil Gogoi incited violent clashes and he must be arrested.Akhil has been vocal critic of BJP government for eviction people from revenue villages near Kaziranga. “Local people were branded illegal Bangladeshi and were evicted from there.

This is a design of BJP and RSS.”BJP president Amit Shah had praised Sarbananda Sonowal led government in Assam for evicting the illegal encroachments. Shah during the BJP’s national executive in Kozhikode praised Sonowal for inspecting the Indo-Bangladesh border and evicting illegal settlers from national park.

He praised Assam government for taking the courageous step in evicting the illegal encroachments from forest land of Kaziranga.

Soon after evicting three villages in Kaziranga, BJP led government announced that it will carryout eviction drive to clear the encroachment on lands in other parts of the state.BJP in 2016 assembly polls had promised to clear illegal settlers from Kaziranga.