Nearly six months after the arrest of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi and three of his associates on charges of links with Maoists, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has failed to submit any concrete evidence against them, KMSS alleged on June 3.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, KMSS leader Bhasco De Saikia alleged that the charge-sheet submitted by the NIA contains no concrete evidence to prove any of the allegations against Akhil Gogoi, Bitu Sonowal, Dharjya Konwar and Manas Konwar.
The 40-page charge-sheet was filed on May 29, which has slapped charges under IPC sections 120B / 124A / 153A / 153B and sections 18 and 39 of Illegal Activities (Prevention) Act.
Saikia claimed that only 19 pages of the charge-sheet mentioned the charges against Gogoi and the other three, and the remaining pages were merely annexures.
He said, “The entire case is based on statements of two anonymous state witnesses. There is no concrete evidence to prove any of the charges. Copies of 64 FIRs against them have been enclosed in the charge-sheet in lieu of evidence.”
Saikia claimed that to prove the charge of Gogoi maintaining links with Moaists, attending their meetings and arranging for Maoist training of KMSS members, the statements of the two anonymous witnesses have been used, ‘who might have been coerced or bribed’.
To prove the charge that the other three arrested KMSS members were influenced by Gogoi’s Maoist ideologies and supported him, a few books seized from the KMSS office in Guwahati have been shown, Saikia added.
The NIA charge-sheet further claimed that the anti-CAA movement in Assam was instigated by Gogoi and carried forward in a manner in which Maoist movement are taken forward, Saikia said, adding, “This allegation is a direct disrespect to the emotions and sentiments of the general Assamese people who have been leading the anti-CAA movement.”
“We demand that Gogoi and the three others are released immediately. If they are not released, the KMSS shall start a movement to ensure their release,” Saikia added.
Gogoi was arrested from Jorhat during the anti-CAB movement (now CAA) in mid-December last year and his associates apprehended subsequently.
