Congress leaders met Aditya Chandra Rabha in Guwahati Central Jail, alleging his arrest and the detention of Pranab Doley reflect a broader attempt to suppress indigenous land rights movements in Assam
Guwahati: A delegation of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday visited Guwahati Central Jail and met land rights activist Aditya Chandra Rabha, alleging that his arrest reflects a broader attempt by the BJP-led Assam government to suppress movements advocating the land rights of indigenous communities.
The delegation, led by Congress leader Mira Borthakur and ST Morcha president Nirmal Langthasa, met Rabha inside the jail before addressing reporters outside.
The Congress leaders alleged that Rabha had been leading peaceful protests for nearly a year in support of indigenous land rights before being arrested in connection with an old case and remanded to judicial custody.
Claiming that the government was targeting those raising concerns over land rights and eviction-related issues, the delegation also referred to the recent arrest of activist Pranab Doley, who was remanded to seven days’ police custody on Monday.
“The government is jailing grassroots leaders who are fighting for the land rights of indigenous communities. Democratic voices are being silenced through legal action,” the Congress delegation alleged.
Rabha, an adviser to the Barduar Bagan Bhumi Pattan Dabi Samiti and spokesperson of the Nikhil Rabha Jatiya Parishad, has been leading protests against the proposed Satellite Township project at Barduar near Palasbari, with campaigners claiming it threatens indigenous land rights.
He was arrested on July 9 in connection with a case alleging financial irregularities in a cooperative small savings bank.
The Bhumi Adhikar Joutha Sangram Samiti has also condemned the arrest, alleging the case is politically motivated and intended to weaken Assam’s land rights movement. The committee demanded Rabha’s immediate release and urged the government to end what it described as the suppression of democratic movements.
The Assam government has not issued any official response to the allegations.
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