Golaghat

1 killed in cop crackdown in Assam's Golaghat

• Report rights infringement
• published: 20 Aug 2014
• views: 12928

One person was killed and 18 others, including three women, were injured when police lathi-charged protesters and opened fire in the Rongajan area of Golaghat district on Tuesday. The injured have been admitted to Golaghat Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital and two referred to Guwahati for treatment. The deceased have been identified as Ajit Tanti, an activist of All Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (Aattsa). He was knocked down by a truck in Rongajan while trying to escape police baton charge. Of the 18 injured, at least two received bullet wounds. Golaghat SP Siladitya Chetia confirmed the incident and said, "We fired in the air and resorted to lathi-charge to control the mob. The protesters created a serious law and order situation in the name of democratic movement. We had no other option." However, TV footages clearly show that the policemen were opening fire directly on the protestors from AK 47 rifle, SLR and pistol. But, no one clearly knew who ordered the firing. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi accused the government of resorting to barbaric action. Police have arrested 16 protesters from the Rongajan area on NH-39 around 5am on Tuesday, after forcibly lifting the 6-day economic blockade against Nagaland imposed by Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and seven other organizations. The arrested have been released on bail. AJYCP organizing secretary Jitul Rajkhowa said, "Police arrested 16 activists from Rongajan when we were asleep. More than 1,000 security personnel, comprising police and CRPF, arrived at the spot around 5 am and surrounded us. Security personnel picked up the agitators and removed the blockade. We had imposed the blockade since August 13 in protest against the attack on Assamese villagers." "We have called an indefinite Golaghat bandh from 8 am on Tuesday in protest against police atrocity on the demonstrators and the government's failure to protect the lives and property of people living along the border. Our activists have blocked roads at Merapani, Dergaon, Numaligarh, Telgorom, Bokakhat and Uriamghat. Police lathi-charged our activists," he said. Condemning police action, Aasu held a sit-in demonstration at Golaghat from 1 pm to 11 pm on Tuesday. The outfit's Golaghat district adviser, Manuara Hussain, said, "We have been carrying out our movement in a democratic way." KMSS secretary Bidyut Mahanta said, "Our activists blocked roads at Bokakhat, Numaligarh, Rongajan and Dergaon in protest against the government's inaction on the border issue. We also condemn police attack on agitators." At least 11 persons have been killed and hundreds of houses torched by Naga miscreants in sectors B and C in Golaghat, along the Assam-Nagaland border, since August 12. AJYCP and several organizations have been protesting against the incident by imposing an economic blockade. More than 10,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps. For More information on this news visit: http://www.itvnewsindia.com/ For More information on this news, visit: http://www.indianews.ind.in/ Connect with us on Social platform at: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaNewsTV Subscribe to our You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/itvnewsindia Connect with us on Social platform at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-News/371196196360607