Assam: Arrested Bodo MLA granted bail

The Gauhati high court on Thursday granted bail to Pradeep Brahma, Bodo People's Front MLA of Kokrajhar (West) constituency in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council area, who was arrested on August 22 on charges of inciting the mob during the recent flare-up in the region

Brahma was arrested on the basis of seven FIRs lodged against him in Dotoma and Fakiragram police stations in Kokrajhar district.

The main charge levelled against him was that of inciting the mob to burn houses during the riot.

Immediately after his arrest, the BPF had stated that the MLA had been arrested on baseless charges by the police and demanded his immediate release without any condition.

The arrest sparked mass protests in the violence-hit Kokrajhar district forcing the administration to impose indefinite curfew a day after his arrest.

The BPF, which is the only alliance of ruling Congress in Assam, is in the power in the BTC.

The BPF, which has 11 MLAs in Assam assembly, was awarded two ministerial berths by Gogoi though the Congress hardly needed BPF's support to form the government.

In the 2011 election, Congress won 78 seats in the 126-member assembly which was more than enough for it to form the government on its own. However, Gogoi as a mark of gratitude for the BPF's crucial support during the last government (2006-11) decided to continue the tie-up with the BPF.