Dibrugarh superintendent of police Shwetank Mishra served a legal notice to All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) general secretary Shankar Jyoti Baruah for calling 24-hour Dibrugarh bandh.
The Dibrugarh SP asked the AASU leader to withdraw the bandh and cooperate with the police in maintaining peace.
AASU called for a 24-hour bandh after their members were arrested by Dibrugarh Police for allegedly assaulting Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members.
The notice, served by Dibrugarh SP reads: “Whereas, information has been received that you have called for 24-hours Dibrugarh district bandh with effect from 5 am of December 26 under the banner of All Assam Students Union, Dibrugarh and widely published the printed copy of the bandh called in the public places (copy of the poster & press release enclosed).”
“And whereas, presently Christmas and New Year eve are being celebrated in the district and various recruitment and academic exams are going on, there is every likelihood of the disturbance to the community at large and even breach of the security law & order due to the said bandh, you are hereby ordered to withdraw the bandh call and cooperate in maintaining peace,” the SP said in the notice.
Stating that “calling of bandh has been declared as illegal and unconstitutional” by various judgements of the Supreme Court of India, Kerala High Court as well as Gauhati High Court, the SP drew the attention of the AASU leader to the specific order passed by the Gauhati High Court in Case No. W.P.(C) 7570/2013 dated 19/03/2019.
The Dibrugarh SP warned the AASU general secretary that “if the said illegal and unconstitutional bandh call is not withdrawn immediately, strict legal action will be taken” against him.
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“Further be known that in case there is any damage to public or private property or injury to any citizen caused due to bandh, proper action under prevention of damage to Public Property Act, 1984 will be taken against you and damage will be recovered from AASU,” the notice to Baruah said.
On December 24, a total of 11 ABVP candidates won the college election out of 13 posts at Dibru College.
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“After the victory of our candidates, we started celebrations. But some of the AASU members came and started attacking us. One of our members sustained serious injuries on his head and was admitted to the hospital. The AASU members attacked us with dao and knives. The AASU members threatened us of dire consequences,” said an ABVP member, who refused to be named.
“On Saturday, ABVP member Jyotishmoy Gogoi was picked up by the AASU and assaulted him. They took him to their office. Dibrugarh police rescued Jyotishmoy and picked up AASU members from their office,” the ABVP member said.
But the AASU members denied the allegation. The AASU members said the ABVP students attacked them at first.
The situation has remained tense in Dibrugarh in the last 2 days following the clash between the two groups.