A lower court in Guwahati has summoned a graffiti artist and a youth leader in connection with a case involving an objectionable slogan against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The slogan was allegedly inscribed on a large canvas during a protest against tree felling at Guwahati's Bharalumukh area for a flyover project in 2024.
Arrest and Bail Details
Graffiti artist Marshall Baruah and youth leader Ankuman Bordoloi were arrested on November 11, 2024, on charges including criminal intimidation, provocation, and public nuisance. They were granted bail on November 21, 2024, with the court stating that further detention was not necessary for the investigation.
Background of the Protest
The duo participated in a protest against the felling of approximately 70 trees marked for removal for the flyover construction at Bharalumukh. Earlier, they had also protested against the government's decision to cut 21 trees along the banks of the historic Dighalipukhuri tank, which dates back to the Mahabharata era. Singer Zubeen Garg had joined that protest. In response to public outcry, the government translocated the trees instead of cutting them, and the trees survived.
Recent Incident
Marshall Baruah gained attention again on Thursday when the Public Works Department (PWD) erased a mural he had drawn of singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore in September last year. The mural, located on a flyover pillar near the state capital complex, featured the slogan 'Comrades Never Die'. Hundreds of Zubeen fans gathered at the site, and Marshall redrew the mural.
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