Scholars voice concern as NIA quizzes IIT prof

NEW DELHI: A group of Indian scholars and academics from across the country have voiced their concern over the questioning of IIT Guwahati professor Arupjyoti Saikia by National Investigation Agency (NIA), allegedly for his involvement in the violent anti-citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests that broke out in the state.

“Professor Saikia is an adornment to the literary and intellectual world of Assam and of India. He is also an individual of high moral character; gentle, soft-spoken, and utterly non-violent. His devotion to his students at IIT Guwahati is exemplary. That a scholar of such standing, and a human being of such decency, has been called for intensive grilling by the National Investigative

Agency is deeply distressing. We urge that the NIA treat him with the dignity and respect he deserves, and allow him to continue his professional work unimpeded,” read the statement signed by 42 eminent scholars. “Professor Saikia is one of the country’s most distinguished and respected historians...,” it added.

The NIA had called Saikia- a history professor at the department of humanities and social sciences - for questioning on Saturday. He was summoned in the same case in which KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi has been arrested.

Following widespread anticaa protest,s Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had hinted that a leading academician from the state had orchestrated the violent protests.