ASSAM: Two people were killed and 11 injured when Indian police committed violence against Muslims in Assam in a bid to drive them from alleged encroachments on government land.
The clashes occurred at Dholpur 3 in northern Assam’s Darrang area, one of the four places where the police targeted its anti-encroachment drive. Around 800 families have been evicted from the land, who are accused of “illegally occupying” government property.
“Two civilians are probably dead and two more injured, along with nine police personnel. A mob of not less than 4,000 resisted the eviction drive by throwing stones at the police and attacking them with sharpened bamboo sticks,” claimed Darrang’s Superintendent of Police, Sushanta Biswa Sarma.
A video from the incident has gone viral on social media. In the video, several Assam cops can be seen in anti-riot gear, mercilessly thrashing a man with sticks even as he lay motionless on the ground.
A man carrying a camera can be seen angrily stomping the man’s face as he lays there on the ground, not moving. Another police officer then jumps in and hits the man on the face with a stick before the others beckon him to leave.
The video has earned the ire of the Indian public on social media as many, shocked and disgusted by the naked aggression, took to Twitter to condemn the police brutality.
Sharing the video, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Ashraful Hussain tweeted, “‘Terror Force’ of fascist, communal & bigoted Govt. shooting at its own citizens. Also, who is the person with camera? Someone from our ‘Great Media’ orgs? The appeal of these villagers, against eviction, is pending in the High Court. Couldn’t the Govt wait till court order?”
Indian reporter Arunab Saikia also condemned the incident, saying that some “horrific visuals” were coming in.
“Three dead, according to the local accounts, as Assam govt’s eviction drive in Darrang district’s Sipajhar turns violent. Some horrific visuals coming in,” he tweeted.
