Guwahati: Attack on RTI activist and peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, allegedly by Congress workers, at Nalbari in lower Assam on Friday led to protest demonstrations and road blockades in various parts of the state on Saturday. Team Anna on Saturday demanded a fair investigation into the incident.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), of which Mr Gogoi is the general secretary, staged protests across the state against Friday’s incident.
Mr Gogoi was allegedly assaulted by local Congress leaders and workers at Chamata in Nalbari on Friday while addressing flood-affected people.
One local Congress leader was later arrested based on Mr Gogoi’s police complaint, with Mr Gogoi claiming that the attack was carried out by state Agriculture minister and local MLA Nilamani Sen Deka’s supporters.
Meanwhile, the Nalbari district bandh called to protest against the incident disrupted normal life in the area on Saturday.
Congress councillor Tapan Barman was arrested Friday night while search was on for five others allegedly involved in the attack on Gogoi when he was surveying flood damage in Purni village on Friday, police said.
The KMSS on Friday staged a sit-in demonstration in Guwahati, after staging a protest in the middle of the streets Friday evening.
Similar, sit-in demonstrations were staged and road blocked by KMSS supporters in other parts of the state also, including Sivsagar and Golaghat.
In Nalbari, a 12-hour district bandh was called by the KMSS, affecting normal life in the district.
The Assam chapter of the India Against Corruption (IAC) also condemned the alleged attack on Mr Gogoi.
In a statement, the IAC’s Assam unit said, ‘The lethal attack on IAC member and noted RTI activist from Assam Mr Akhil Gogoi is nothing short of hooliganism reportedly by the members of the Congress Party. The attack is condemnatory and deplorable.’
‘It seems, having failed to trouble Mr Gogoi through the state machinery, the Congress party is now brazenly indulging in hooliganism through its goons. These so called torch bearers of democracy are trying to muzzle just voices through brute force,’ it added.
The IAC also demanded an investigation into the Agriculture minister’s purported involvement in the incident.
He alleged that Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka, representing Dharmapur assembly constituency, where the attack took place was behind the incident and his supporters were involved in his assault.
Mr Gogoi has been leading the anti-big dam protests in the state and is seen as a prominent anti-corruption crusader and whistleblower.
Mr Gogoi is a prominent and a credible voice against corruption in Assam and those behind the attack were obviously affected by the activist’s campaign against corruption.
Team Anna accused the state police of indulging in eyewash in connection with the assault(Agenncies)