Muslim teenager killed, 4 hurt as police open fire during eviction drive in Assam
Dispur: A 19-year-old Muslim youth was killed and at least four others were severely injured when police opened fire on villagers protesting against an eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area in the BJP-ruled Assam state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the deceased has been identified as Sakuar Ali, a resident of Betbari village in Assam’s Goalpara district. Among the injured, Kasimuddin (27), is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Others injured include Amir Hamza (30), Saiful Ali and Akkas Ali.
Locals said that the eviction drive primarily targeted Muslim families, Indian news site, The Wire reported. On July 12, authorities demolished the houses of 1,080 Muslim families in the area, claiming that they were encroaching upon the Paikan Reserve Forest. However, residents argue that the area is a recognized revenue village, not forest land. While many displaced residents left after the drive, several stayed behind and took shelter under makeshift tarpaulin tents.
Abul Kalam, 27, of Asudubi revenue village, lost his home in the eviction drive and has since been living under a makeshift tent in the village. He said that “thousands of police personnel were deployed in the area” and that “it is still a curfew-like situation.” According to locals, police have been pressuring families to vacate the area, repeatedly dismantling their temporary shelters and destroying belongings.
Tension escalated on Thursday when officials brought an excavator to the Betbari area to dig up a road and cut off access to the site. Residents gathered to resist the move. Members of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) and Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) also joined. Protesters say the police responded with a brutal lathi charge, followed by gunfire.
“When we tried to stop the excavator, the police started lathi-charging us,” said a 35-year-old resident who witnessed the incident. AAMSU leader Animul Islam also spoke of police lathi charge. SMSS leader Al Mustafijur Rahman said, “This is an inhuman attack on the Muslims in the name of an eviction drive.”
“As we reached the field near the road, they opened fire. I saw people collapse in front of me after being shot,” a resident told The Wire on condition of anonymity.
According to some residents, forest officer Jagdish Barman said, “I will shoot all of you dead, even if I have to spend the money from my own pocket.”
