Barpeta: Akhtar Hussain, district president of the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), the student wing of the the regional party Raijor Dal, was arrested by Dhubri Police on September 4 in connection with protests against a massive eviction drive in Bilasipara area under Chapar Revenue Circle that displaced around 2,000 Miya Muslim families on July 8.
According to a notice served on Hussain’s legal guardian – a fellow party member – by the district police, the activist was arrested in connection with case number 111/2025 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including 61(2) for criminal conspiracy, 126(2) for wrongful restraint, 221 for obstructing a public servant with discharge of functions, 132 for assault to deter public servant from discharge of duty; 324(3), 324(5), and 324(6) for mischief, 125(b) for act endangering life or personal safety of others, and 109(1) for attempt to murder. Police have accused him of creating a “law-and-order situation” on September 3 in connection with the eviction drive.
The notice also accused him of instigating people to join protests and throwing stones at police vehicles.
The arrest came a day after Hussain, along with Raijor Dal leader Ashraful Islam and Socialist Party (India) leader Sandeep Pandey, were stopped by police while attempting to visit Chirakuta and Charuabakhra villages in Dhubri district where an eviction drive had taken place on July 8. Police initially detained Islam and Hussain at the Salkocha outpost, releasing Islam later that evening but transferring Hussain to Chapar police station for further questioning.
Sofura Khatun (44), to whom the police notice was served, alleged that Hussain had been arrested in a false case. She told The Wire, “He was detained yesterday. There was no case against him until 12.30 am on September 4. Now the police have accused him under several sections and is trying to send him to jail. This is completely unethical. He must be released.”
Speaking to The Wire, Sandeep Pandey strongly condemned the administration’s actions. He said, “When we, along with Ashraful Islam and Akhtar Hussain, tried to talk to the victims, officials stopped us and claimed nothing had happened. I don’t understand what the Himanta Biswa Sarma government wants to hide, when everybody knows what has happened.”
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
