Guwahati, 25 September (HS): The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Friday alleged that several senior Congress leaders were forcibly arrested by police while they were taking part in a protest in Guwahati against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

APCC Media Department Chairman Bedabrat Bora condemned the arrests, describing the police action as an attempt to suppress a democratic protest. He alleged that police used force during the demonstration, where Congress workers had gathered to burn an effigy of the Chief Election Commissioner.

According to Bora, those arrested included APCC president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan, Seva Dal president Deep Bayan, APCC general secretary Udit Bhanu Das and party leaders Bidisha Neog, Mousumi Neog, Tazika Parbin, Mainajan Begum, Shantanu Bora, Golam Mustaque Osmani, Ankur Raj Gogoi and Anwar Hussain, among others.

Bora termed the police action “deplorable” and alleged that the incident reflected what he described as the Assam government’s failure to uphold democratic rights. He also lodged a strong protest against the arrests and the manner in which the demonstration was handled.

The Congress leaders had assembled as part of the party’s protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. Further details regarding the arrests and any police case or charges in connection with the demonstration were not immediately available.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash