In what seems a continued effort to undermine the importance of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, the Assam Police have sent around 33 anti-CAA protestors belonging to the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) to 14 days’ home quarantine for allegedly violating corona-induced lockdown norms over the first 24 hours, The Telegraph reported.
This has led to the anti-CAA brigade decrying the move alleging that the government was trying to derail anti-CAA protests. Shahjahan Ali, KMSS adviser told TT that they have responded by filing an FIR at the in-charge of the Palashbari police station for their unfair action. He also said that they have asked the district administration to quarantine the police station as they had come in contact with the protestors when officials had physically assaulted them. KMSS has also decided to move the Assam Human Rights Commission against the police action.
On Monday, June 8, around 13 members from KMSS were asked to home quarantine in Kamrup district under the Palashbari Police station and on Tuesday, June 9, 22 KMSS members were first detained at the Morigaon police station, asked to undergo a medical examination and then placed under home quarantine.
Morigaon SP Swapneel Deka told The Telegraph that the KMSS members didn’t have permission to stage the protest and were in violation of Section 144. However, senior KMSS leader Mukut Deka said that they had staged the protests seeking the release of four KMSS leaders – Akhil Gogoi, Dhaijya Konwar, Bittu Sonowal and Manash Konwar, keeping social distancing in mind. Ali and Deka, both said that the government was trying to impose on them by going after protestors and student activists and not understanding the sentiments of the people. They added that the government was trying to “finish the KMSS” and that it was “scared of KMSS which is not afraid to speak up against the government”.
Dr. Hiren Gohain, the President of Coordination Committee of the anti-CAA organizations who is also under home quarantine told TT that the police action smacks of highhandedness. He said, “Everybody has the right to protest democratically and peacefully by adhering to social distancing norms.”
Akhil Gogoi, Dhaijya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal have been incarcerated under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since December 2019. Earlier this month, KMSS leaders had condemned the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) effort to establish that they were guided by a Maoist ideology. They said that the chargesheet made against the KMSS leaders had no basis and only attributed charges based on books read and words like ‘Laal Salaam’ and ‘Comrade’ being used by them.
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