The demise of Biren Dutta is an irreparable loss, especially for the literary world of Assam. I was once a regular visitor to the Asam Xahitya Xabha session (literary festival) held biannually.
Gogoi contested the election in absentia as he was in jail. He was arrested over sedition charges in 2019 during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. He was also accused of helping set up bases for the Maoists.