An FIR was registered against the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ and the chief organiser of the yatra, KB Byju for allegedly deviating from its permitted route inside the town of Jorhat in Assam on Thursday, police said.
As per the statement of an official, the march had taken a different turn inside the town but it was supposed to go towards KB Road as permitted. This situation of the route diversion led to a “chaotic situation” in the area. “Some people fell due to the sudden rush of people and a stampede-like situation was created. A suo motu FIR has been registered at Jorhat Sadar Police Station against the Yatra and its chief organiser,” the official added.
According to the official, it was mentioned in the FIR that the Yatra had not followed the norms of the district administration and also that it violated road safety norms. The Leader of the Opposition Party, Debabrata Saikia told PTI that the FIR was actually a ploy to create unnecessary obstacles before the beginning the yatra in Assam.
“There was no police manning the traffic diversion at the PWD point. The assigned route was too small and we had a huge gathering. So, we took a detour for just a few metres. Himanta Biswa Sarma is scared of the Yatra’s success on the first day (in Assam) and now wants to derail it,” Salkia added.
While it is to be noted that the Assam leg of the march will continue till January 25. The yatra in Assam will cover 17 districts.
