The Gauhati High Court on Monday granted interim bail to former All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) general secretary Sankarjyoti Baruah in connection with an alleged assault at a petrol pump in Dibrugarh district, paving the way for his likely release on Tuesday.
Baruah, who was arrested on May 19, had been in judicial custody following the incident which sparked widespread protests across the region, with several student and youth organisations demanding his release and action against the police.
Senior advocate Angshuman Bora, appearing for Baruah, confirmed that interim bail was granted in the case that had been rendered non-bailable after the police invoked the charge of attempt to murder. “Initially, both cases registered at Duliajan police station were bailable. But one of them became non-bailable after the police added Section 307 of the IPC. He had already secured bail in the first case from the local court, and now the High Court has granted interim bail in the second matter,” Bora said.
Baruah’s legal team awaits the certified copy of the court order to initiate his release, expected by Tuesday.
The case took a political turn after images of Baruah being handcuffed during his court production triggered public outrage. Responding to the backlash, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the handcuffing was done due to the nature of charges but added that police have now been directed not to use handcuffs on Baruah in the future.
In protest, various regional organisations had called a 12-hour bandh in Duliajan last week, demanding action against the officers responsible for handcuffing the former student leader.
Baruah, once seen as a rising youth leader in Assam, resigned from the post of AASU general secretary last year following controversy surrounding his personal conduct, including allegations of sexual harassment made by a law student.
