Guwahati: Following the arrest of the Graffiti artist Neelim Mahanta, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti along with its student wing Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti staged protest for the second consecutive day in Lakhimpur district.
The protesters are demanding for the immediate release of the artist. They further said that the Mahanta should be released immediately without any condition other than that they will create a worst situation than now.
Moreover, Singer Zubeen Garg on Tuesday demanded the early release of the arrested graffiti artist from Assam, Neelim Mahanta.
Sharing a photograph of a wall graffiti by Mahanta Garg wrote, “Free souls cannot be stopped in cages. Release Neelim.”
The hashtags, “#ReleaseNeelimMahanta”, “#StandwithNeelimMahanta” “FreeNeelim” are creating waves on social media.
It may be mentioned that the artist was invited to Arunachal Pradesh to draw graffiti in protest against a dam that is being built in Dibang. The graffiti was in connection with the protest against the proposed 57,000 MW Mega Dams in Dibang.
As per the reports he was arrested because he painted the graffiti on the ‘Wall of Harmony’ – an art project at the Secretariat Building wall in Itanagar.
It needs to be noted that along with Mahanta, advocate E Mili was also apprehended from Roing in Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. A case under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 has been registered against the two at the Itanagar Police Station.
However, Local organisations have come forward demanding Mahanta’s immediate release and they said that the artist was invited to the State to draw the graffiti for which he was even paid.
Further, Assam Jatiya Parishad’s President Lurinjyoti Gogoi has also demanded the release of Mahanta.
AAP Assam condemns the arrest of artist Neelim Mahanta for protesting against construction of big dams through his art in the walls of Arunachal Pradesh’s Secretariat, and demands his quick release.
It may be mentioned that Neelim Mahanta is famous for his Graffiti work on the newly constructed Supermarket flyover in Guwahati and also for other popular portraits across the state.