KMSS chief pays protest penalty

GUWAHATI: Several activists of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) were injured and its president Akhil Gogoi was detained on Monday as police tried to prevent the organization from taking out a protest rally. Gogoi was released on Monday evening.
KMSS activists have been on a hunger strike for the last seven days to protest against a recent government notification allowing agricultural land, which has not been farmed for more than 10 years, to be used for non-farming activities.On Monday, KMSS took out a protest rally.
Police, who claimed that the rally was taken out without their permission, scuffled with protesters to break the procession which began from Dhighalipukhri and moved towards the Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner's office. Police resorted to lathicharge and Gogoi was taken to Panbazar police station, along with a few others.
The KMSS members argued that they were protesting in a democratic manner, but police countered the claim.
Guwahati SSP Anand Prakash Tiwari said the protestors did not seek prior permission for the rally. "We had to stop them because KMSS did not have the administration's permission," Tiwari said.
KMSS publicity secretary Dhaijya Konwar said over 35 KMSS activists, including its general secretary Kamal Kumar Medhi, were injured in the police action. Medhi has been admitted in a city hospital.
After his release from Panbazar police station, Akhil said the way the rally was disrupted showed high-handedness on the part of the administration.
"There is no democratic space for protest. Even women were not spared of police attack. We will intensify our agitation from Tuesday till the government revokes the notification," Akhil alleged.
He said if the notification is not revoked there is possibility of large-scale conversion of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purpose by the corporate biggies. He added that once this happens farming community in the state will be in great danger.