Painting of anti-dam graffiti on 'Wall of Harmony' in Itanagar

 Arunachal Police arrests professional graffiti artist Neelim Mahanta from Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: A team of Arunachal police on Sunday arrested a renowned professional wall painter, graffiti artist Neelim Mahanta from Lakhimpur in connection with the anti-dam graffiti painted by him on the 'Wall of Harmony' in Itanagar. Neelim is the eldest son of subject teacher of Boginadi HS School, Late Barun Mahanta, who died in harness, and teacher Swargajyoti Goswami Mahanta, residents of Choraimoriya near North Lakhimpur town of the district.

In this regard, the team of Arunachal police came to Lakhimpur on Sunday and arrested the graffiti artiste at around 8:00 pm from the residence of one of his friends, located at DK Road of North Lakhimpur town, with the help of North Lakhimpur Police. At that time Neelim went to visit the friend with his newly married wife, whom he married just a month ago, informed Neelim's mother Swargajyoti Goswami Mahanta.

Neelim's mother further informed this correspondent that her son was invited by some local persons of Itanagar on Thursday. She added that on that day morning only Neelim reached home from Guwahati to stay at home for three days. However, he had to leave for Itanagar on the same day as response to the invitation, reason of which was not known to her. He came back home on the next day.

However, it has come to light that Neelim was invited to Arunachal Pradesh to paint the anti-big dam graffiti as a mark of protest against the mega dam that is being set up in Dibang River connecting Bomjir and Malek villages in the eastern part of the State. This mega dam is projected to generate 57000 megawatt electricity and Neelim was called to draw the graffiti against this mega dam project.

As per report, Neelim was arrested under Section 425 and 134 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) as per a non-bailable case registered against him at Itanagar Police Station. Section 425 of IPC is imposed when a person is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or to any person, causes the destruction of any property, or any such change in any property or in the situation thereof as destroys or diminishes its value or utility, or affects it injuriously, commits "mischief".

On Monday, Neelim was presented in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Itanagar and court sent him to the judicial custody for two days, informed Ujjal Goswami, one of his close relatives.

Meanwhile, the local organizations in Arunachal Pradesh have come up in support of Neelim demanding his immediate release. The organizations claimed that Neelim was invited by the locals of the State to paint the graffiti and was paid for his work.

It should be mentioned here that Neelim Mahanta has left his mark in different parts of Assam with his outstanding talent of paintings catching the attention of many. One of his quintessential wall paintings of Zubeen Garg at Lakhimpur bypass went viral on various social media platforms which led him to gain much attention across the state."

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