Assam: 'Dhalpur firing incident during eviction drive a Barbaric Act of Police' Bhupen Kumar Borah

GUWAHATI: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Kumar Borah strongly condemned the barbaric act of police firing on resident protesters of Dhalpur area in Sipajhar during eviction drive of Assam Government.

In an official release Borah said, “The very act of eviction is itself inhuman specially during COVID situation. The Supreme Court had also given a directive against eviction during pandemic situation yet the Assam Government led by CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has remained adamant behaving in an autocratic manner to evict the residents of Dhalpur who have been living in the area since the 1970's. Before eviction Government should have arranged for rehabilitation and alternative housing.“

Bhupen Borah further added, “The people in the area have been subjected to harassment repeatedly by the BJP Government since they came to power in 2016. Without alternative arrangements for land and housing where will these poor people go and how will they survive? They are mostly cultivators and their source of sustenance is being attacked. A Government's job is to work for welfare of people and not create problems for people by making them homeless without food, shelter, education which are basic human rights.”

ALSO READ:Two killed, several injured in police firing in Assam’s Dhalpur

Demanding rehabilitation for the people, the APCC President said, “We demand that CM should first rehabilitate the people and not evict them forcefully. It is becoming very clear that the BJP Government only knows how to govern through the might of the bullet as seen in fake encounters and now in open firing on people. Such type of governance is highly condemnable and is dangerous for a democratic society. The Congress Party warns the BJP Government to not indulge in actions that will turn Assam into a police state. “

Earlier today, violence erupted in Dhalpur this afternoon as two civilians were killed while several have been injured in a police firing during a protest against eviction drive.

Continuing the eviction process, the Assam government today went for eviction in Dhalpur are of Sipajhar where they met with severe protest from the locals over the eviction which led to a clash between the police and the locals.

According to sources, over 10,000 encroachers were protesting at the no 3 area against the eviction drive.

People were protesting against eviction from the morning which ultimately led to a clash with the police.

Sources suggest that the protesting encroachers attempted to attack police officers with blunt instruments, forcing officers to retaliate with tear gas and rubber bullets.

In an attempt to control the crowd police opened fire, killing two people and injuring several others.

Follow us on Facebook