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News Desk: A day after violence broke out in Assam’s Darrang district during an anti-encroachment drive leading to the death of two civilians and injury of several others including police personnel, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that over 10,000 people had surrounded the cops and used violence which led to police retaliation.
Calling eviction drive “urgent”, the CM said it was not done overnight and discussions were on for 4 months.
“Congress delegation had met me and agreed on land allotment to landless. 27,000 acres of land has to be productively used. There was a temple, which was also encroached upon” he added.
He further said that the eviction drive was initiated with an agreed principle that landless will be provided 2 acres each as per land policy.
“Our 11 police personnel have been injured. We will carry out an inquiry on how the cameraman came into the scene, and why he tried to overpower that particular person. We have ordered a judicial probe” Sarma added.
When asked about the viral video in which a photojournalist and a cop were seen beating a protestor, Assam CM said, “You cannot demean state govt with one video”
He further said that since 1983, that area is known for killings.
“Normally people don’t encroach on temple land. I’ve seen encroachments all around. A peaceful eviction drive was agreed upon, but who instigated?” he asked.
On Wednesday, Sarma had said the police were forced to take action as the mob of several hundred people protesting the eviction drive, attacked the security personnel with sticks, machetes, and spears.
He also said that the eviction drive, which had started on Monday, would continue on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Assam government has also ordered a judicial inquiry by a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court.
As many as two persons were killed and several were left injured including police personnel, as clashes broke out on Thursday between the police and local people in Dholpur Gorukhuti area of Assam’s Darrang district.
Violence ensued after a team of security personnel went to the area to evict illegal encroachers. The Superintendent of Police Darrang, Sushanta Biswa Sarma said, “They pelted stones & attacked Police personnel. 9 Policeman injured, I’m inquiring about the video that’s doing rounds on social media”
The injured police personnel were taken to a hospital and are being administered treatment.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the police firing incident. Taking to Twitter he wrote, “Assam is on state-sponsored fire. I stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the state- no children of India deserve this”
Over 800 families were rendered homeless after the Assam government carried out a massive eviction drive in Dholpur Gorukhuti village of Darrang district on Monday, as per media reports. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the project following a day after the first eviction drive had been carried out by the Dholpur Gorukhuti district administration on June 7.
