Angry mob sets fire to BJP leader’s house

Police take action against those on hunger strike to remove encroachments on Government land in Assam

Gauhati (Assam) – After the police took into custody the protesters on hunger strike to remove encroachments on Government land in West Karbi Anglong District of Assam, the protesters threw stones and set things on fire. The angry mob set fire to the house of a BJP leader. The police had to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Three people were seriously injured in this incident. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police have been deployed at the spot. Nine protesters had been sitting on a hunger strike here for the past two weeks.

Protesters marched to the house of Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and a BJP leader. The angry mob pelted stones at Ronghang’s house in the Dongkamukam area and then set it on fire. Ronghang was not present in the house when the fire broke out. Regarding the incident, Ronghang said that they are not against the protest, but a solution can only be found through dialogue. The protesters have been invited for talks. The violence erupted because of the misunderstanding that the police had arrested the protesters.

Citizens of the Bihari Nonia community have encroached upon Government land. Police stated that some families have been living there since 1983. The community has submitted a petition to President Droupadi Murmu to prevent the removal of the encroachment. It has also filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Gauhati High Court.

Editorial Perspectives

Why do people have to go on hunger strike to remove encroachments on Government land? Why doesn’t the administration take the initiative to remove them? If action is taken against the protesters in such a situation and they then erupt in anger, who will be responsible for that?