Guwahati: Assam’s farmer leader and anti-dam activist Akhil Gogoi has decided to start an indefinite hunger-strike here from Sunday to pressurize the state government to stop what he alleged were atrocities on anti-dam activists in Lakhimpur district.
Akhil Gogoi’s Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and several other organisations have been preventing the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) from carrying construction materials to the lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power (LSHP) project site in the district since December 26, 2011.
The construction of the lower Subansiri project has virtually come to a halt since then.
Gogoi alleged that on May 11, a team of police personnel attacked KMSS activists who were demonstrating peacefully at Ghagar in Lakhimpur district, and unleashed “inhuman atrocities” on them.
“I have decided to sit for indefinite hunger strike despite my ill health as the security forces have unleashed inhuman atrocities on our peaceful and democratic protestors. So far, 27 activists have been detained and our makeshift camp at Ghagar in Lakhimpur district was dismantled by police and the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force),” said Akhil.
He said his decision to go on fast unto death was taken to protest the ongoing “police high-handedness” against the anti-dam activists. (IANS)
