GUWAHATI: Guwahati police on Friday, December 20 arrested Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Borah, former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora, and several other Congress leaders, including Social Media Chairman Ratul Kalita and MLA Diganta Barman when they were demanding justice for Mridul Islam, a Congress worker who died on Wednesday, December 18, during tear gas shelling by the police..
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Friday's protest was held near Rajdhani Masjid in the Dispur locality area.
Protesters demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and planned to present a memorandum to the Governor. However, the situation turned volatile as the police, equipped with riot gear, moved in to block the demonstrators.
During the protest, police detained several of the Congress leaders and workers, transporting them to the 10th Police Battalion in Kahilipara. The APCC strongly condemned the arrests, with Bedabrat Bora, Chairman of the APCC Media Department, condemning Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly attempting to suppress the democratic movement. Bora stated, "The Chief Minister has exposed his cowardice by trying to intimidate Congress leaders and workers."
As the police intervened, some Congress workers defiantly sat on the road, chanting slogans and resisting attempts to disperse them. The protest escalated when certain members attempted to breach the barricades s, resulting in a heated standoff between them and law enforcement personnel.
Meanwhile, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President Uday Bhanu Chib, who had travelled to Guwahati to join the protest, was detained at his hotel early morning on the same day. According to Chib, the police barged into his room at 5 AM. and took him and his colleagues into preventive custody. He claimed that their mobile phones were confiscated, likening the treatment to that of "terrorists."
Despite the arrests and disruptions, the Congress party has vowed to continue its agitation until their demands are met.
POLICE FIR
Related to the ongoing situation, the Assam Police have registered a suo moto case at the Latasil Police Station over the Congress’s “Raj Bhavan Chalo” protest programme on Wednesday, December 18.
The case (No.130/2024) has been registered under sections74/115(2)/121(1)/189(2)/189(3)/191(2)/195(1)/195(2)/223(b) BNS, 2023 read with Section 94 of The Assam Police Act, 2007 and Section 3(1) of The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act ,1984.
Investigation will proceed as per provisions of law, a police statement said.
