(IN) Bokakhat bats for MLA Kaziranga accused in cop net

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090517/jsp/northeast/story_10975310.jsp

 

Bokakhat bats for MLA Kaziranga accused in cop net - Bokakhat bats for MLA

 

A STAFF REPORTER

 

Jiten Gogoi

Guwahati, May 16: Police today arrested Independent MLA from Bokakhat

constituency, Jiten Gogoi, from Panbari under Bokakhat police station in

Golaghat district, ending a two-month-long drama.

The former Ulfa member was absconding after arrest warrants were issued against

him and his colleague Kushal Duari, the Independent MLA from Thowra

constituency, on charges of assaulting a forest ranger at Kaziranga National

Park on March 17.

Gogoi was on his way to Guwahati for treatment when his vehicle was accosted at

a police checkpost on National Highway 37 around 7am today.

He was arrested and produced at Golaghat court around 10am and remanded in 48

hours’ police custody.

The court has directed the police to carry out a health check on the MLA every

24 hours.

The MLA was, however, hospitalised at Golaghat civil hospital soon after his

arrest.

Gogoi’s arrest comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed his application

for anticipatory bail.

Both Gogoi and Duari had moved the apex court with two separate anticipatory

bail applications after Gauhati High Court rejected their applications last

month.

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of Duari’s bail application, as

his counsel sought more time on technical grounds. Duari is still absconding.

The MLAs had assaulted ranger Dharanidhar Boro when he had tried to stop them

from fishing inside the park.

The duo, accompanied by their friends and security personnel, also damaged a

security gate and ransacked a wireless room at the divisional forest officer’s

office.

Boro was allegedly threatened with an AK-47 rifle.

The MLAs have been charged under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act and

Wildlife Protection Act.

Bokakhat town observed a six-hour bandh since morning in protest against the

MLA’s arrest.

The Bokakhat Nirmaan Joot, an NGO through which Gogoi started his political

career soon after he severed ties with Ulfa, called the bandh.

Gogoi was the lone former rebel leader in the state who came overground without

surrendering.

A large number of women supporters of Gogoi today gathered at the Golaghat court

and protected the MLA from being photographed by waiting photojournalists and TV

cameramen. Sources said Gogoi had actually surrendered before the police since

his last hope to procure anticipatory bail was rejected by the Supreme Court

yesterday.

The MLA managed to give the police the slip for almost two months now since he

was “given a chance†to try and get anticipatory bail. “He also selected

the right day to surrender since the development will be shadowed by the

election results,†a wildlife activist at Bokakhat said.

Forest employees and wildlife activists across the state were protesting against

the incident and have been demanding the arrest of the two MLAs.

 

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Dr. Sashanka

Chief Functionary - JBF(Just Be Friendly)

Co-opted Member - Animal Welfare Board of India

(Ministry of Environment & Forests)

New Delhi - India.