The Gauhati High Court has granted interim bail to Sankar Jyoti Baruah, former General Secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), who was arrested on May 19 in connection with an alleged physical assault at a petrol pump in Dibrugarh district.
Baruah’s arrest followed a complaint filed by Tanu Shahi, alleging that he assaulted workers at the petrol pump. The incident sparked protests from several regional student and youth organizations. Senior advocate Angshuman Bora, representing Baruah, stated that two cases were registered against him at Duliajan Police Station.
While he had already secured bail in one case, the addition of an ‘attempt to murder’ charge in the other made it non-bailable. The High Court’s interim bail now covers both cases, and Baruah is expected to be released from custody on Tuesday, pending receipt of the certified court order.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly after images surfaced showing Baruah handcuffed during a court appearance. This led to criticism and a 12-hour bandh in Duliajan, demanding action against the police personnel involved. In response, the Chief Minister directed the police to refrain from using handcuffs on Baruah in the future.
Baruah had previously resigned from his position in AASU amid allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct involving a law student. The current AASU leadership has distanced itself from him, stating that he left the organization to avoid expulsion due to these allegations.
The High Court’s decision to grant interim bail is seen as a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against Baruah.
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