NIA court frames charges against Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi under UAPA in anti-CAA protest case
The Sibsagar MLA claimed that the Union government wanted to keep him in prison and said he would challenge the charges in the Gauhati High Court.
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A special National Investigation Agency court on Tuesday framed charges against Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi and three of his associates under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code for their alleged role in violence during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state in December 2019, reported PTI.
Judge SK Sharma charged Gogoi, who is the MLA from Sibsagar, with conspiracy under the anti-terrorism law.
Under the criminal law, Gogoi has been charged with conspiracy, promoting enmity between different communities and making imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration, his lawyer Santanu Borthakur confirmed.
Charges were also brought against Dhaijya Konwar, Bittu Sonowal and Manash Konwar under provisions of the anti-terrorism law and the Indian Penal Code.
The court, however, rejected the inclusion of Section 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, which prescribes the punishment for extending support to terrorist organisations. The court also rejected the inclusion of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with sedition.
Gogoi said he would challenge the framing of charges in the Gauhati High Court and alleged that the Union government was attempting to keep him and his associates behind bars.
“This again proves that we are with the people and this government wants us to be kept inside the jail,”...
