Violent mob attacks police personnel in Hojai over sand mining dispute

A CORRESPONDENT

KHERONI: In a shocking outbreak of violence in Hojai district, at least seven individuals were detained following a brutal attack on police personnel and mediapersons in Digholbali, a flood-affected area approximately 7 km from Hojai police station, on Tuesday night. Over 100 armed locals, wielding sharp weapons and bamboo sticks, clashed with police, injuring several officers, including a female sub-inspector.

The conflict stemmed from a long-standing dispute over a patch of alluvial soil and sand along the Kapili River, where illegal sand and soil mining has reportedly been rampant for years. Despite repeated complaints from local residents to the Hojai district forest department, authorities allegedly failed to address the issue. Tensions escalated when an excavator, hired by an individual named Bijesh for sand extraction, was intercepted by locals. The mob assaulted the excavator driver, tied him to a pole, and beat him severely.

Following Bijesh’s complaint, police rushed to the scene to rescue the driver and recover the excavator but were met with fierce resistance from the armed crowd. “They targeted whoever they saw, without hesitation,” a senior police officer reported. The mob vandalized three police vehicles during the assault.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel intervened, using lathi charges and blank firing to disperse the attackers. Authorities have since seized the weapons used in the attack.

On Wednesday, additional forces from Nagaon were deployed to stabilize the area. Senior officials, including Akhilesh Kumar Singh, IPS, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), and Dr V Siva Prasad Ganjala, IPS, IGP Central Range, conducted a security review. IGP Singh confirmed the arrest of seven individuals for assaulting police personnel and destroying public property, urging the public not to take the law into their own hands. The Nagaon Senior Superintendent of Police and a senior officer from West Karbi Anglong also visited the clash site and Hojai police station to assess the situation.

The injured excavator driver and others are receiving medical treatment at a hospital. Many locals have fled Digholbali, fearing police reprisals. Authorities are intensifying efforts to identify additional perpetrators and restore calm in the area. Investigations are ongoing to ensure all those involved in the violent clash are brought to justice.

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