Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Police detained several Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) leaders, including president Palash Changmai and general secretary Bijon Bayan, at the Nazirakhat Toll Gate in Sonapur on Wednesday. The arrests occurred during a demonstration against ongoing toll collection on the damaged NH-27 highway.
Hundreds of AJYCP members gathered at the toll plaza despite a heavy security presence. They demanded an immediate halt to fee collection until the road undergoes full repairs. The agitation follows a deadly accident near Khetri-Dimoria on August 30 that claimed seven lives. Public outrage persists over these road hazards.
The crackdown triggered an immediate wave of protests across the state. In the town of Doomdooma, the local AJYCP unit burned an effigy of the Assam Police to signal their defiance. Protesters there demanded the unconditional release of all detained activists, labeling the arrests an attempt to stifle peaceful dissent.
Palindra Borah, president of the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU), slammed the government for targeting those voicing valid concerns. Borah stated, "Every citizen in a democratic country has the right to peacefully protest for their legitimate demands and rights. Detaining protesters who are exercising such democratic rights is in no way acceptable."
AMSU warned that they will continue to fight attempts to silence public opposition. Meanwhile, AJYCP units in various districts have threatened to intensify their actions if authorities refuse to free their leadership. The state remains on edge as the movement grows.
Comments