RTI activist Akhil Gogoi detained

Guwahati: RTI activist and leader of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Akhil Gogoi along with some of his associates have been arrested for allegedly

violating Section 144 Cr PC and his press meet stopped under the Peoples' Representation Act on Sunday.

Kamrup(Metro) Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Chowdhury said Gogoi has been detained for violating Section 144 Cr PC after he and his associates gathered at Dighalipukhuri area to take out a procession on the eve of second phase of assembly polls.

Section 144 was in force throughout the district and as such taking out a procession was a violation, he said.

Earlier, Gogoi's press meet at Guwahati Press Club was stopped as it amounted to violation of the model code of conduct under the Peoples' Representation Act, he said.

Gogoi was expected to be released by this evening but he could not take out a procession, he added.

Gogoi, however, alleged that his detention and stopping of press conference was 'politically motivated'.

"I am not a member of any political party and as such my holding a press conference does not violate the model code of conduct", he said while being whisked away by the police.

Moreover, the press conference and subsequent procession was in support of Anna Hazare's fight against corruption and had nothing to do with elections, he claimed.

Gogoi, however, has been addressing poll rallies and was vocal in his criticism of the ruling Congress government.

The ULFA anti-talk faction led by Paresh Barua in an e-mail statement sent to the media has criticised Gogoi's detention.