Kochutoli Village eviction drive: DGP visits area to review situation

Guwahati:In Kochutoli village, located in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district of Assam, tensions have escalated following a violent clash during a controversial eviction drive. The situation, which saw police firing resulting in two deaths and injuries to several individuals, prompted a high-level review by Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), G.P. Singh, on Friday.The eviction operation, aimed at removing alleged encroachers from tribal belt lands, began earlier in the week and was initially carried out without incident. However, on Thursday, the situation deteriorated when villagers began attacking police personnel with sharp weapons and stones. According to DGP Singh, the police were compelled to open fire in response to the violence, which led to the tragic deaths of two protesters and injuries to 22 police officers and 11 villagers.DGP Singh described the attack on the police as a possible “conspiracy,” suggesting that certain factions might have instigated the violence.
He noted that the eviction process had been proceeding smoothly until this sudden outbreak of aggression. The violence was reportedly exacerbated by the villagers using stones from nearby railway tracks to assault the officials.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended the eviction drive, asserting that it is a necessary measure to reclaim tribal belt land that had been illegally settled by non-tribals. Sarma criticized opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for allegedly inciting violence and obstructing the eviction process.
He emphasized that the land in question had been reserved for certain tribes and protected classes as per regulations established in 1950 under the Assam Land Regulation Act of 1886.DGP Singh provided further details on the background of the eviction drive. He explained that authorities had been monitoring illegal constructions in the area for several months, which prompted a review of land ownership and settlement status. The land in Kochutoli was identified as a tribal belt where only members of protected classes are permitted to reside.
The recent survey revealed that some new settlers did not belong to these protected classes, leading to the decision to take legal action against the encroachments.The police operation had been ongoing since the end of August, with authorities using public address systems to warn residents to vacate the premises. Despite these warnings, some individuals returned to the land after previous removals, which contributed to the confrontation with officials and police.As the situation remains volatile, authorities plan to resume the eviction drive once the review by the DGP is complete. The incident has highlighted the complex interplay between land rights, political interests, and law enforcement in the region, underscoring the challenges faced in managing such sensitive operations.