A day after the police crackdown that ended the rail blockade by Greater Cooch Behar Peoples association (GCPA), 13 of its arrested supporters were slapped with charges of sedition and waging war against the government and were produced before a local court on Wednesday.
Chief judicial magistrate of Cooch Behar, Selim Ansari ordered that ten of the arrested be sent to police remand for eight days and the rest to 14 days in judicial custody.
Among those sent to police custody are two GCPA central committee members, Bhabesh Chandra Barman and Girija Sankar Roy.
All of the arrested were charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code including sections
- 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy)
- 121 (waging war against the government of India)
- 122 (collecting arms to wage war against the government)
- 123 (facilitate design to wage war)
- 124(A) (sedition)
- 147 (rioting)
Apart from these sections, they were also charged under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosive Substance Act, Maintenance of Public Order Act and sections of Indian Railway Act.
Twenty-two other protesters, who were also arrested from New Cooch Behar railway station, are under treatment at the MJN Hospital.
GCPA supremo Bangshi Badan Barman evaded arrest on Tuesday and is still at large, police said.
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