Assam Writer booked for allegedly writing against tea tribes

A 68-year old doctor and popular author in Jorhat Dr. Bikaas Barooah has been booked by Assam Police on charges of creating enmity between groups after a complaint which alleged that his recent satirical piece ridiculed the tea tribe community.

The doctor, however, denied the accusations sayingthat his writing was not against any community but a commentary on criminalslike the ones who were responsible for the lynching of a doctor in a tea estatein Jorhat in August.

Officer-in-charge of Jorhat Police Station, Ranjit Chetia on Sunday said that they registered a case on October 4 against Dr. Barooah under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after a complaint which states that his article in Prantik magazine insults the Adivasi (tea tribe) community. The article has the potential of disturbing the law and order situation, said the complaint.

Chetia further said that no arrest has been made.

Section 153 A of the IPC deals with instances ofpromoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth,residence, language etc.

Joint Secretary of the Sanmilita Nagarik Mancha, Jorhat, JM Dutta said that the group lodged a complaint against Dr. Barooah and Pradip Baruah, the editor of the fortnightly Prantik published from Guwahati over Barooah's column in the recent edition.

The OC later said that the editor of the magazine hasnot yet been booked as the case is under investigation.

The recent satirical column in the magazine by Dr. Barooah ridiculed the tea tribe community in a malicious language comparing them with animals and also described them as black, alcoholics, and cannibals, Dutta said saying that since the writer was assaulting the indigenous people it is their duty to complain.

However, the allegations have been rubbished by Dr. Barooah saying that it's a purely satirical piece and it's very clear. It is about one person who represents a group of criminals. It is not against any religion or community adding that he has been disgusted, sad and angry over recent incidents against doctors including the lynching of Dr. Deben Dutta in Teok Tea Estate in Jorhat.