Two civilians were killed and nine policemen injured today when an anti-encroachment drive in Assam’s Darrang district blew up into a brutal clash between the police and people protesting eviction. On camera, policemen in riot gear and armed with guns and sticks chased and attacked protesters and even firing shots.
In horrifying visuals, a cameraman filming the clash attacked a protester who had earlier followed him with a stick. The protester, beaten by policemen, lay motionless as the cameraman kept attacking him until he was restrained.
The state government has ordered a probe – to be headed by a retired High Court judge – into today’s violence.
Some 800 families were evicted in the drive against encroachments at Dholpur on Monday. The state wants to repossess 4,500 bighas of government land for an agricultural project.
