Assam: 2 Killed, Dozens Injured In Police Firing After Mob Attacks Cops In Anti-Encroachment Drive In Sonapur
A team from Sonapur circle office and the police went to Kochutoli village in Kamrup district to evict Bengali-speaking Muslims who had returned despite being removed from the encroached land.
Two people were killed and several others including security personnel were injured on Thursday after an eviction drive turned violent in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district of Assam. The incident took place when the police personnel opened fire to disperse a mob of protestors who had attacked them during the drive.
A team from Sonapur circle office and the police went to Kochutoli village in Kamrup district to evict Bengali-speaking Muslim villagers who had returned again even after being removed from the encroached land. Over 150 people resided in a 100-bigha plot of land in the area, The Economic Times reported.
As the team arrived, they were attacked by villagers, including women, with sharp weapons, stones, and sticks. This left several officials including a magistrate and around 20 security personnel injured, following which the policemen opened fire. A police vehicle was also damaged in the incident, news agency PTI reported.
The injured officials include Sonapur Circle Officer Nitul Khataniar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Mrinal Deka and Sonapur police station officer-in-charge, Hirak Jyoti Saikia.
The deceased have been identified as Jubahir Ali and Haider Ali. Both of them were injured in the firing and were taken to Sonapur district hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
An eyewitness told PTI that more than 50 people were injured and were taken to the district hospital. An official said that those who sustained minor injuries received first aid and were released from the hospital.
In view of the tensions, additional security forces have been deployed in the village. Senior civil and police officials are also present at the spot. "The situation has been brought under control but simmering tension prevailed in the entire area," the official added.
Senior police officer who did not want to be named told Economic Times that the eviction had been going on for sometime and there prior to today they did not face any problem. "On other days there was no problem. However, tension started on Thursday. Police personnels were attacked with sticks and sharp objects. Vehicles were damaged and police personnels were injured in the stone pelting by the protestors," he said.
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