Guwahati Molestation: Activist Alleges Conspiracy Against Assam CM

This is a retelling, in our own words, of the Indian Express report. The victim is not named. The conspiracy claims below are those made by the activist at his press conference, not established findings.

RTI activist and Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi claimed on Tuesday that the recent molestation of a young woman in Guwahati — allegedly instigated by the reporter of a local news channel — may have been part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and destabilize the state government.

At a press conference, Gogoi alleged that the channel was owned by a state minister whose wife served as its CEO, and that the entire incident had been planned, recorded, telecast, and uploaded to YouTube by the channel with political motivation. "We feel there may be a possibility that the entire incident was a part of a greater conspiracy to tarnish Gogoi's image and destabilise the government," he said.

Gogoi was unsparing toward the Chief Minister as well, calling him weak and saying he had kept his eyes closed "like Dhritarashtra" — the blind king of the Mahabharata — and that it was time he woke up.

He welcomed the resignation of the channel's Editor-in-Chief, Atanu Bhuyan, saying it had exposed the political class's control over the channel and expressing hope it would lead to greater independence in Assam's media. Bhuyan, for his part, said he had resigned because the Chief Minister's comments on the journalist's role — and the demand for the resignations of both Bhuyan and the reporter — could bring pressure on the management.

Gogoi demanded the immediate arrest of the journalist, Gaurav Jyoti Neog, who allegedly instigated the incident, along with the prime accused, Amarjyoti Kalita. He claimed the two had a close relationship and that Kalita had been helped to flee because his arrest would expose more facts. He disputed the channel's claim that the victim had not named the journalist or the channel, saying she had stated before a magistrate that the journalist was recording on his mobile phone and that she had tried to cover herself on seeing the camera.

Gogoi said he had asked Director General of Police Jayanta Narayan Choudhury why Neog had not been arrested; the DGP, he said, had replied that it was a high-profile case and police were proceeding step by step. Gogoi welcomed the transfer of Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police Apurba Jiban Barua and demanded the removal of IGP (Central Western Range) G.P. Singh, voicing doubts about the officers assigned to investigate.

He closed with an appeal to the media not to name or spotlight the victim, so the focus would stay on bringing the culprits to book. "She may be good or bad but she is entitled to certain human rights and we must respect that," he said.

Source: The Indian Express