Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that 16 persons have been arrested in Azara, located on the outskirts of Guwahati, for allegedly assaulting police personnel and district administration officials who had gone to the area to serve eviction notices to suspected encroachers.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme at the state BJP headquarters, Sarma said the officials were serving notices to certain “unknown people” in the area when they were confronted and attacked.
Azara falls under the chief minister’s constituency.
He asserted that the state government would proceed with its eviction drive and that all illegal encroachers would be removed. A permanent police camp will be set up in the area to prevent further incidents, he said.
The chief minister claimed that despite the eviction of around 1.5 lakh bighas of land across the state, encroachments and resistance to the drive continue. He alleged that if the BJP were not in power in the state, rules and regulations would not be followed.
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Sarma maintained that those occupying the land illegally were “not indigenous people, but unknown individuals.” Holding the Home portfolio as well, he said he had directed strict action against those involved in the attack, leading to the arrest of about 16 persons so far.
He added that law enforcement would be strengthened in the tribal belt and block areas, and warned that stringent action would be taken against encroachers.
