Two protesters were killed and 11 others were injured in police firing during a drive to evict alleged encroachers in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district of Assam, a top police officer said. Twenty-two police personnel and a government official were also injured in an attack by an irate mob which prompted the firing by the law enforcers.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, claimed that the eviction drive was underway peacefully but after the Congress's opposition to it, the encroachers became aggressive and attacked the government officials and policemen.
Director general of police GP Singh said revenue authorities of Kamrup Metro have been carrying out eviction proceedings from the government land in the notified tribal belt of Sonapur Revenue Circle.
During this process, 248 bighas of government land have been cleared of encroachment, removing 237 illegally constructed structures in the tribal belt built by people not authorised to build such structures, he said.
