2 Killed As Assam Police Open Fire After Mob Attacked Them During Eviction Drive In Kamrup

Guwahati: Massive protest turned violent in Assam ’s Kamrup district during an encroachment eviction drive, when the protesters with lathis and bamboo sticks attacked the police personnel and other government officials on Thursday leaving several policemen injured. The police also resorted to lathi-charge and firing, which led to the killing of two protesters. An official said that the police had to open fire to disperse the mob that attacked them during a drive to evict alleged encroachers in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district of Assam on Thursday.

The official stated that a team from the Sonapur Circle office and the police went to Kochutoli village in the district to evict villagers who had previously been removed from the encroached land but had again returned.

‘ Congress started opposing the eviction drive’: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday told media personnel, “The eviction drive happened peacefully. When the Congress started opposing the eviction drive in the morning, the situation became worse and a large number of people with lathis, and bamboo sticks attacked the police and government officials team who went to the area today. 22 police personnel and a Revenue Circle officer were injured. Police also resorted to firing shots and two people died and seven others were injured."

The villagers, including women, resisted the eviction drive and attacked the officials and policemen with sharp weapons, sticks and stones, resulting in injuries to a magistrate and over 20 police personnel, the official said, adding that a police vehicle was also damaged in the incident.

The police had to open fire to disperse the mob. Two encroachers were injured in the firing and taken to Sonapur district hospital where they succumbed to their injuries, he said. The two deceased have been identified as Haider Ali and Juwahid Ali, who died during treatment at the Sonapur District Hospital, sources said.

Revenue Circle Officer Nitul Khatoniar and four police officers, including a woman constable, were injured. The eviction drive had tried to clear alleged illegal settlers from a 100-bigha plot in the area. The eviction drive had been going on peacefully for the last three days until Thursday, sources said.

On the fourth day today, the police and the officials allegedly came under heavy stone-throwing by the encroachers, sources said, adding that many police vehicles were damaged and vandalised. They were also attacked with sticks and sharp objects, sources said.

The police and paramilitary forces opened fire to control the situation, they said.

In September 2021, two people were killed and 15 policemen were injured in clashes between alleged encroachers and the police during an eviction drive in Assam 's Gorukhuti.