Who instigated Darrang eviction drive violence, asks Assam CM Sarma

The Assam chief minister has defended the police action. Himanta Biswa Sarma  on Friday said the ongoing eviction drive was urgent and was  not taken up overnight. Stating discussions were held for four months and there was agreement on a peaceful eviction of encroachers, Sarma asked who could have instigated the violence?  Sarma said that about 10,000 people had gheraoed the security personnel and used violence on them at Dholpur village in  Darrang district on Thursday during an eviction drive, 

He said 11 policemen were injured in the clash adding a judicial enquiry would be held into the incident. Sarma said the eviction drive was initiated on an agreed principle -- that landless people will be provided two acres each as per land policy. “We expected no resistance, but about 10,000 people gheraoed the Assam Police, used violence. It was then that police retaliated," CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "You cannot demean the state government with one video. Since 1983, that area is known for killings.Otherwise, normally people don't encroach on temple land.

 Some protesters had allegedly hurled stones at the officials and attacked them with sharp weapons. The police had then opened fire in "self-defence", which killed two civilians. It led the two sides to confront each other, in which several others, including personnel, were injured, the police said.