Citizens' meet condemns Akhil’s arrest , seeks release

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

BARPETA, June 21: The Barpeta District Committee of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today organized a citizen meeting at Press Club premises here demanding immediate release of arrested KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi and Kamal Kumar Medhi.

The meeting also slammed the Government for alleged anomalies in the APSC examitions. The meeting, which was presided over by jourlist Munindra Das, was also addressed by writer Akshay Kumar Mishra, Babul Das, professor of MC College, playwright Liyakot Ali, social activist Mahesh Choudhury and  physician Syed Ahmed.

All the speakers in their speeches strongly condemned the arrest of  the peasants’ leaders and demanded their immediate release.

They also sought a CBI probe into the alleged anomalies in APSC examitions and demanded the removal of APSC Chairman Rakesh Paul.

 KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi was arrested on June 16 from the front of Assam Public Service Commission building minutes before he was to address the media about alleged anomalies in the commission.

Police said Akhil was arrested for “inciting” people from preventing APSC officials from entering the office. After the arrest, he was taken to Basistha police station and then to Panbazar police station (where regular check-up was conducted by doctors) and then the court of chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup (metro). The court remanded him in 14-day judicial custody.

Akhil had been on a hunger strike since June 15 demanding a CBI probe into alleged anomalies in the selection process of Assam Civil Service, Assam Police Service and other service examitions whose results were declared recently. The APSC and its chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul have been under fire for quite some time after reports emerged in the local media about alleged anomalies in the selection process.

Besides Akhil, the police arrested Kamal Kumar Medhi, leader of the Ga Mukti Sangram, Assam, and four others.

APSC controller of examitions A. nda Babu Singha had filed an FIR at Dispur police station accusing Akhil and Medhi for instigating other KMSS members not to allow APSC officials from entering the office and using filthy language against them.

The police registered a case (no. 1169/15) under Sections 120B (crimil conspiracy), 341 (wrongful restraint), 294 (obscene acts and songs), 353 (assault or crimil force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (crimil intimidation) of the IPC.