Guwahati: Even after a three-hour-long interrogation, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah was once again asked to appear at Jorhat Sadar Police Station on February 12 in connection with a case registered over alleged violation of the approved route and incite disruptions in the town during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 18.
Borah appeared in the police station at around 11 am. He was released on personal release (PR) bond after the interrogation at around 3.30 pm, but once again asked to appear before the police station on February 12.
Borah was accompanied by opposition leader Debabrat Saikia, MLA Bhaskarjyoti Baruah and his lawyer.
The police further asked Borah to submit some documents relating to the permission on route for the Bharat Jodo Nyan Yatra (BJNY) in Jorhat town.
More than two hundred workers and supporters of the Congress party were also waiting outside the police station and seen staging a dharna in support of Borah.
Speaking to the media, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia said, “The police today released him on personal release (PR) bond and asked him to appear again on February 12. They also sought some documents. Our president will appear and submit all documents.”
“We will obey the law. But at the same time, we will protest against the misuse of the law. We have to appear before them as we are not above the law. We will cooperate with the police,” Saikia added.
Meanwhile, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) condemned the interrogation and fresh summoning of Bora and said it revealed the fascist character of the BJP-led government in Assam.
“No such incident has taken place in any part of the country during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. But it happened only in Assam,” a statement of the Congress party said.
Apart from Borah, two other leaders against whom the summons was served are APCC working president Rana Goswami and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) chief organiser KB Byju.
Goswami sought time for an appearance at the police station on February 11, while Byju sought 10 days for an appearance.
Two other leaders Jorhat District Congress Committee (JDCC) president Putul Buragohain and JDCC general secretary Abhijit Phukan have already appeared before the police station on January 27.
The case, registered in response to incidents during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passing through Jorhat town, involved allegations of provocation and damage to public property.
A has been registered with Jorhat PS vide case number 20/2024 under section 120(B)/115(II)/143/147/188/283/323/353 of IPC read with section 3 of the PDPP Act for allegedly deviating from its permitted route inside Jorhat town on January 18.
The march took a different turn from AT Road to Nehru Park via Garh Ali in the town instead of going towards KB Road as permitted, and it led to a “chaotic situation” in the town.
The FIR mentioned that the Yatra did not follow the district administration’s norms and it violated road safety norms.