Violence Would Not Terrorist Act

  • 01-Jul-2021
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Blockades unaccompanied by incitement to violence would not constitute terrorist act, said a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Guwahati on Thursday while discharging Akhil Gogoi, Raijor Dal president and MLA from Sibsagar, Assam, in connection with a case related to anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

Court said, ‘Ordinary bandhs, blockades, shutdowns as part of some protests, unaccompanied by incitement to violence would not come under the ambit of the expression ‘threatening the economic security of India’ under section 15(1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.’

‘Protests in a democracy are sometimes seen to take the form of blockades also, even causing inconvenience to citizens. However, it is doubtful whether such blockades for temporary periods, if unaccompanied by any incitement to violence, would constitute a terrorist act within the meaning of section 15 of UA(P) Act.’ 

Gogoi, who was arrested in December 2019 and was admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) last year for various ailments, walked out of the hospital hours after the court order. He had been discharged in the other case filed against him by NIA last week.

The present case against Gogoi and three others, Dhajya Konwar, Manas Konwar and Bitu Sonowal, was registered in December 2019 in Chandmari police station in Guwahati and was later transferred to the NIA. Apart from Gogoi, all three other accused were on bail.

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