BDF chief Pradip Dutta Roy arrested for allegedly opposing ‘Assamese hoardings’ in Silchar

Nov. 27: In a significant incident, Cachar Police on Saturday evening arrested Pradip Dutta Roy, Chief Convener of Barak Democratic Front (BDF). Earlier, Mr Dutta Roy was called in by the cops and was interrogated for long hours. His arrest is based on a FIR lodged by Hindu Yuva Parishad at Silchar Sadar Police Station.

Confirming this, Ramandeep Kaur, Superintendent of Police Cachar stated that Pradip Dutta Roy has been booked under section 153A, 295, 295A, 120B, 124, 505, 506 of IPC.

The purpose of the Section 153 A is to punish persons who indulge in wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc of any particular group or class. The offence is a cognizable offence and the punishment for the same may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. Section 295 of the I.P.C makes destruction, damage, or defilement of a place of worship or an object held sacred, with intent to insult the religion of a class of persons, punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine , or with both. The object of Section 295-A is to punish deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulating its religion or the religious beliefs. Under Section 124A of IPC, the offence of sedition is committed when any person by words or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law. Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes is stated in IPC 505. Whoever commits, the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both- states IPC 506.

Pradip Dutta Roy in the capacity of Chief Convener of BDF allegedly issued strict warning to remove a hoarding written in Assamese within the premises of Goswami Filling Station (Petrol Pump) in Silchar. Following which, the hoarding was replaced by a Bengali one. Dutta Roy citing the Assam Official Language Act claimed that as Bengali is the official language in the valley, all government posters/ hoardings should be written in Bengali.