Kaziranga eviction turns violent, 2 killed

Eviction drive in 3 villages completed, 391 houses demolished, 3,200 bighas of land freed of encroachment; Brahma demands Akhil Gogoi’s arrest; AAMSU calls for Assam bandh; State government conspiring to make some people landless, alleges AIUDF

BY OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/KAZIRANGA, Sept 19: The Assam government filly conducted an eviction drive in the three villages of Badardubi, Palkhowa and Deuchurchang adjacent to Kaziranga tiol Park on Monday. However, two persons were killed when protests against the drive turned violent in Bandardubi village. Several people, including 20 policemen, were also injured in the incident.

In the morning, the gaon district administration with several JCBs, elephants and a huge police force started the eviction drive in the three villages. Although the eviction was peaceful at Palkhowa and Deuchurchang, it turned violent at Badardubi.

A group of encroachers at Badardubi started pelting stones at the police team, which ultimately led to blank firing and mobbing of tear gas shells. In the stampede that followed, two persons lost their lives. They have been identified as Anjuma Khatun and Fakruddin.

The feeling of tension was palpable mainly at Bandardubi since Sunday night. gaon district deputy commissioner Samsher Singh told The Sentinel: “Eviction drive in the three villages was completed today. Around 391 houses were demolished and 3,200 bighas of land in these three villages were made encroachment free.”

According to eye-witnesses, a section of encroachers under the leadership of Akhil Gogoi led the protest, but when the situation started deteriorating, Gogoi vanished into thin air.

Sources said police is now questioning him why he had instigated the villagers to oppose the eviction drive. State Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma later demanded the arrest of Akhil Gogoi for inciting the protestors to violence.

When State Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary was asked where the evicted settlers of Bandardubi would go, he said, “That is not our concern. But we will keep an eye on them so that they wouldn’t again encroach upon forest land in future.”

According to an agency report, two villagers died in a near stampede like situation after cops fired tear gas shells to try and disperse the protestors. Several rounds were also fired in the air, but the police maintain that the deaths were not due to bullet injuries. Meanwhile, an Assam bandh from 6 am to 4 pm has been called tomorrow by the AAMSU. President of AAMSU Ajijur Rahman condemned ‘police atrocities on villagers’ and demanded adequate compensation for them. Rahman alleged that the present government is trying to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims.

The AIUDF alleged that the present State government is conspiring to make a section of people in the State landless.