Congress worker 'killed in tear gas smoke' during protest in Assam
Guwahati, Dec 18: A Congress worker was killed and several others were injured in tear gas shell smoke during a protest on Wednesday against a range of issues, including unrest in Manipur and bribery charges against Adani Group, the party claimed.
A senior police officer, however, said the exact reason for the death will be known after the post-mortem examination report comes, and denied that anyone was injured in the incident.
Police and Congress supporters were engaged in a scuffle, in which Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora fell on the ground, and were detained. They were released later.
Congress Legal Cell member Advocate Mridul Islam (45) felt suffocated when a tear gas cell fell near him, party spokesperson Bedabrat Bora claimed.
"He was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital and then to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). He was declared dead there," he added.
After visiting the GMCH, Guwahati Police Commissioner Diganta Barah said, "The tear gas shells were not fired. Police only rolled three shells on the road so that smoke would come out and people would disperse."
Several media persons, including senior journalist Amarendra Deka and his camera person, were injured and were being treated at the GMCH, the Congress spokesperson said.
"Around 10 people were injured and they are receiving treatment at GMCH. In my political career, I have never seen such a huge and ruthless police presence to stop a democratic protest, which was going to submit a memorandum only," he added.
According to visuals on local media channels, the Congress chief and a few of the protesters were apparently pushed over the barricades by the police while they were trying to cross over.
The police commissioner said the Congress did not even seek permission for the 'Raj Bhavan gherao' protest, in which over 1,000 people took part.
"We had deployed an adequate number of police personnel and erected three barricades. The protestors broke two barricades and went to the third one. There was no lathi-charge or force used. Only we rolled the tear gas shells," Barah said.
He claimed that the magisterial inquest conducted on the deceased found no external injury and "the exact reason will be known only after the post-mortem examination report comes".
The Congress on Tuesday had formally intimated the Guwahati Police Commissioner about the protest programme and it was duly received by his office. A copy of the signed receipt is available with PTI.
The opposition party took out the protest march as part of a nation-wide programme. They marched against ethnic clashes in Manipur, bribery charges against the business conglomerate Adani Group and installation of 'smart meters' for electricity connections in Assam.
The Congress, meanwhile, filed a complaint at Latasil police station against the death of Islam due to "excessive use of tear gas" and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
Terming it as a "homicidal death amounting to murder", the party sought compensation for the family of the deceased.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
