Assam police question Rahul Gandhi's aide in Yatra route deviation case

Jorhat: KB Byju, a former SPG officer and close aide to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was questioned by Assam Police in Jorhat on Saturday regarding his alleged involvement in the deviation from the permitted route of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in January.

Byju was questioned for over three hours and may be called again for further investigation, though no date has been set yet.

"The yatra passed through Jorhat town on January 18, where there were issues prompting a case registration at the Jorhat Sadar police station," said a police officer. "Byju was one of the accused named in the FIR, and he appeared before us today."

Byju arrived at the station around 10:20 am and remained until 2:00 pm. The officer clarified, "The interrogation is concluded for now, but we may call him again if necessary."

Several other Congress leaders, including APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah and working president Rana Goswami, were also named in the FIR for the alleged route deviation. The case involves charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, and disobedience of orders.

The alleged route deviation occurred during a padyatra (foot march) through Jorhat town. Congress leaders claim "confusion" at a tri-junction led them to take an unauthorized path, causing a "stampede-like situation."

The Assam leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra covered 833km across 17 districts between January 18th and 25th. The nationwide yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, began in Manipur on January 14th and will conclude in Mumbai on March 20th.