Will there be actions against the MLAs?

People of the state have been made to understand that poor governance is prevailing in the state. The recent incident by two MLAs inside Kaziranga National Park has drawn the attention of nature lover from all over state. Various organisations have demanded to take action against the guilty MLAs who have violated laws and damaged the property of KNP. A public protest was organised by various civil society organisation on 29th at Guwahati demanding the authorities to take necessary actions against the MLAs who went on rampage in KNP on March 17.

Members of several frontline nature and wildlife conservation organisation staged in sit- in demonstration in Guwahati demanding stern action against the two legislators of Assam legislative Assembly, Jiten Gogoi and Kushol Duori, who had recently gone on rampage in KNP.The MLAs had entered Kohora Range of the National Park with automatic weapons and fishing equipment to fish illegally. The offending MLAs and their associates also damaged park’s property before escaping.

“It is really a shameful matter for us that in spite of knowing that the MLAs are guilty no action has been taken against them”, said Bibhab Talukdar, a leading wildlife conservationist from the region. Assam Government must take action against them as they have violated wildlife protection act and assaulted forest officials from KNP, he added. Aaranyak, Eco – Systems – India, WWF-India, dolphin Foundation, Early Birds and other NGOs strongly condemned the physical attack on forest officials and damage to property in Kaziranga by the MLAs and their associates.

It is to be mentioned that two FIRs were lodged at the Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat district against the two MLAs under Case No. 42/91 under sections 147,148,149,447,353 and 427 of Indian Panel Code: under section 7 of the Indian arms Act; and under section 51 of wildlife protection Act of 1972 as amended in 2006 and the case no. 43/09 under section 147,148,149,447,353 and 506 under Indian panel Code.

The state Police has remained inactive and content by simply declaring these high profile accused as absconders but they were telecasted by some local and national channels days after the incident. If these electronic media can reach them why the police have failed to reach them is a paradox amongst the nature lovers of the state. It has made simple for anyone to understand that as the elections are approaching the Assam Police might be under political pressures as political parties would need favor from these MLAs.

The NGOs have demanded immediate arrest of the accused persons without further delay and urge the state government to take stern action in the interest of protecting the sanctity of a world heritage site.