Assam: NIA Court Grants Bail to KMSS Leader Dharjya Konwar
Gaurav Das
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Guwahati: Dharjya Konwar, state joint secretary of the peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), was granted bail by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court on Friday (July 17). He has been in the Guwahati Central Jail for close to 200 days.
Dharjya, who was tested positive for COVID-19 along with fellow KMSS and Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) leaders Akhil Gogoi and Bitu Sonowal last week, is undergoing treatment at the state-run Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH).
Konwar is the latest leader from KMSS and its students' wing SMSS to be granted bail over the last few days.
Gogoi's NIA case hearings are scheduled to take place on July 20 and 21. On Thursday (July 16), the Gauhati high court granted him bail in three cases filed by the Assam police.
The NIA-related cases accused the leaders – Manas Konwar, Bitu Sonowal, Dharjya Konwar and Akhil Gogoi – of being Maoists, having links with ‘extreme’ Leftist underground groups and ‘waging war’ against the nation. There were other cases which were registered against the four leaders by different police stations both in Guwahati and in Upper Assam.
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Sections of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were levied against all these leaders for their alleged involvement in the violence that broke out during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the state.
“Today is a good day, as the NIA special court granted him bail. He is undergoing treatment at GMCH, and when his treatment is over, he will be able to walk free. The conditions that are involved when bail is granted are also attached to Konwar’s granting of bail. His bail was accepted on the basis of a surety of Rs 30, 000. On Saturday, we will give the bail bond,” said advocate Santanu Borthakur.
There was a total of seven charges against Konwar, from both the Assam police and the NIA. “In the other cases filed by the different police stations, he was granted bail before. He has now been granted bail in the NIA-related cases,” added Borthakur.
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