Mother of peasant leader and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi appealed to the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to release him at the earliest.

Priyada Gogoi along with other family members on December 20th, 2019 staged a sit-in demonstration in Marian demanding the immediate release of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti’s advisor without “any conditions”.

Speaking to media, 80-year-old Priyada said, “My son has done nothing wrong. He had visited someone’s house to have a glass of water when he was arrested in Jorhat. I request the government to release my son. He is my only son…I am old now and in great tension.”

“My eyesight has become weak…I cannot see properly. I am not keeping well. Akhil had asked me to wait. He was supposed to take me to doctor (for operation),” she added as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Akhil was arrested by Assam Police in Jorhat on December 12th, 2019 amid protests over the citizenship law. On December 13th, 2019, Guwahati police registered a suo moto case against him. The Assam government handed over the case to NIA on December 14th.

He was booked him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) under Section 120 B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 124 A (sedition), 153 A (unlawful association) and 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 18/39 (punishment for conspiracy)

He was sent to 10-day NIA custody on December 17th, 2019 by a special court in Guwahati and was taken to NIA Headquarters in New Delhi. Akhil has been accused of having nexus with Maoist groups.

Akhil has alleged that he was subjected to extreme torture. The Assam Human Rights’ Commission has decided to take suo moto cognizance of media reports of alleged atrocities on the peasants’ leader.

Photo: @sopoonrehmansaikia and @smitaranideka