Assam Police open fire during eviction drive in Sonapur; Two reportedly dead, several injured
Guwahati: An eviction drive in the Sonapur area on the outskirts of Guwahati turned violent on Thursday, with Assam Police resorting to firing on protesters. Local activists have reported that at least two people were killed in the police firing, while several others sustained injuries, a report published in Maktoob stated.
The confrontation occurred as residents protested the demolition of their food grains and makeshift homes. During the clash, numerous protesters and police personnel, including the circle officer of Sonapur, were injured. Shahjahan, a local resident, told Maktoob that his son had been shot and that 17 to 18 dwellers were wounded in the police firing.
The evictions, which began on August 21, targeted Muslim residents accused of encroaching on government land. For three days, the process had been relatively peaceful. After their homes were demolished, the residents stayed near the remains of their homes in Ward 1 and Ward 2 of Kachutali village, despite warnings from Assam Police to vacate the area within two days.
Tensions escalated when bulldozers arrived to destroy the temporary shelters and food grains that had been stored nearby. The protest turned violent as residents resisted the destruction of their remaining possessions.
Shahjahan, whose family had moved to the area after erosion in their native Mayong Basbari village in Darrang district, said the residents had been living in the area for around a decade after being displaced by natural calamities. "We are neither illegal migrants nor encroachers," he said. "We bought small plots of land here after our village was washed away. I have my NRC, and no one here is a doubtful citizen."
The displaced residents had relocated to the village after being forced to leave an earlier settlement near a Ganesh temple. According to Shahjahan, many of the villagers had worked in Karnataka to save money and purchase the small plots where they built their homes.
Shahjahan also expressed deep concern over the whereabouts of his 18-year-old son, Tafiz Ali, who was shot near a railway line while returning home. "I don’t know where my son is," he said.
The injured were taken to Sonapur Civil Hospital and Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Activists claim that as of the time of reporting, relatives of the wounded were not allowed to visit them due to heavy police deployment around the emergency ward at GMCH.
Efforts to contact officials from the Kamrup Metro district administration and Assam Police for a statement were unsuccessful, Maktoob added in their report.
50 people including DCP, Circle Officer, Police OC of Sonapur Thana grievously injured on attack of Miya Muslim, while they went to evict illegal encroachment in Kosutoli of Sonapur in Assam. Today was the 4th day of eviction. See the video how scary, thousands of Bangladeshi… pic.twitter.com/O80Ss7tBvL
— Oxomiya Jiyori 🇮🇳 (@SouleFacts) September 12, 2024
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
