A video went viral on social media in the beginning of this week, where young men were being trained to use pistols and guns at a camp which was organized at the Maharishi Vidya Mandir School in Mangaldoi. Following this event, a case was registered at the Mangaldoi Police Station under Section 153A which deals with promoting enmity between different groups and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to the criminal acts committed by several individuals with a common intention.
The principal Hemanta Payeng and the Administrator Ratan Das were arrested by the police on Tuesday. However, they were later granted bail.
Around 350 people had attended the camp which was organized from 24 July 2023 to 30 July 2023. On Wednesday, the Assam Police arrested two individuals associated with the Bajrang Dal for conducting arms training camp at a school in Darrang. The accused have been identified as Bijoy Ghosh and Gopal Boro by Prakash Sonowal, Darrang Superintendent of Police. Those two were remanded to “judicial custody”. The investigation about the illegal arms training camp that took place in the school is still in the process to apprehend any other individuals who are involved in the camp, he said.
PTI reported that numerous Opposition leaders in the state came forward demanding action against the organizers of the camp. Badruddin Ajmal, Chief of All India United Democratic Front, took an initiative and wrote a letter to state’s Director General of Police GP Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa, urging them to take strict actions against the people who are involved in the organization.
As per PTI, ” Badruddin Ajmal mentioned in his letter that a viral video showed office bearers of the organization provoking people to wage war against Muslims and also tempting the Muslim women to get married”. The video also revealed ‘open threats, hatred and insulting remarks against the Muslim community’. Mr.Ajmal emphasized that such camps are responsible for creating communal tension in the state. Additionally, President Raijor Dal and MLA Akhil Gogoi wrote a letter to CM Sarbananda Sonowal, questioning about the training camp as a ‘preparation for instigating the communal clashes in Assam’.
Concerns were expressed by the Opposition leaders about potential disturbances before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and also questioned about the role of the Home Department and Assam Police. They raised the issues of discriminatory actions against the training camp and demanded appropriate action.
