February 2006 Protests Against Army
From WikiAssam
In February 2006 villagers from Jeraigaon and Kakopothar have taken to the streets in large numbers and have directly attacked security establishments in protest against the death of villagers in Army custody.
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Army operation
The Army under unified command began operations in upper Assam soon after the January 2006 Militancy. The operations began in the afternoon of January 27 and targeted Jeraigaon, the village of ULFA leader Paresh Barua among others.
Protests
Jeraigaon
On February 1, 2006, residents of Jeraigaon blocked the national highway between Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, and the railway track at Kanjikhowa near Chabua demanding the release of Dhiraj Senapati and Bibhuti Gohain. Senapati and Gohain had been detained by the Army on charges of being ULFA militants. The blockade was lifted after the Army handed over the detainees to the police [1].
Kakopothar
Ajit Mahanta, who was picked up by the Army from Gohaingaon on February 4, died in custody on February 6. Thousands of people from about 50 villages blocked NH 52 at Dirak. On February 6, the body of Ajit Mahanta was handed over to the protestors, who cremated it on the highway itself on the night of February 7 ([2]).
The protests continued demanding an end to killing of innocent villagers and punishment to those who killed Ajit Mahanta. On February 10 villagers advanced toward Kakopothar police station, about 16Km from the site of the blockade. The police tried to stop the the villagers at Lazum by lathicarge, tear gas and firing. The protestors dispersed but regrouped to advance toward the police station again, and the police fired at them at different places. The protestors attacked police vehicles, pickets etc [3].
Curfew was imposed in the Kakopothar and Dirak areas [4].
Positions
The ULFA has attributed the violence of the protestors to lumpen elements and have urged peaceful protests in the future [5]. The Army has decided to compensate the family of Ajit Mahanta.
