Two killed in protest march in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: Violent protest by a mob in Guwahati on Wednesday resulted in death of two persons, including a nine year old child, and injury to another 30, of which a dozen were policemen.

Police had to baton charge and fire tear gas to quell the mobs that were protesting eviction drive of the Tarun Gogoi-led Government from the forest land in the Guwahati city. The two people were killed when police fired to disburse the protestors.

Around six vehicles, including three buses of Assam State transport Corporation, were torched. Several vehicles were damaged when mob resorted to stone pelting.

More than 5,000 people, led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), a peasant’s organization, staged a protest in Guwahati demanding that the authorities stop the eviction drive in the city's hill areas. The protestors stated that Congress party has promised them land holding prior to recent assembly elections.

Akhil Gogoi, secretary of KMSS and a RTI activist, said, “We want the government to stop the eviction drive and give written commitment to it. The government must come up with a land policy and give land certificate to landless locals.” He alleged that miscreants infiltrated the protestors and torched the vehicles.

The government has formed a group of ministers to look into issue which has snowballed into a controversy now. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, “We are for providing land to the landless.

However we arenot going to help those who are with Akhil.” Guwahati has a population of 15 lakh, out of which about three lakh resides in the 18 hills in the city.