Police vehicles were damaged and 3 cops were injured during a clash with flood-hit homeless families, who protested against their eviction from government land at Simenchapori in Dhemaji’s Jonai area.
Sources said hundreds of flood-affected families from Bahir-Jonai, Gali-Sikari, Ramdhan, Laimekuri, and Somkong gaon panchayats under Jonai revenue circle took shelter in temporary tents on forest land at Simenchapori.
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But the administration of Jonai sub-division, acting on complaints from locals, evicted the families from the forest land on Tuesday resulting in an unpleasant situation.
The affected families, who were taking shelter in temporary makeshifts for a week, have staged protest demanding proper rehabilitation measures from the authority’s end.
The protesters blocked the National Highway 15 at Simenchapori for three hours, attacked the police personnel and administrative officials in which two police vehicles were damaged.
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Three police personnel sustained injuries during the clash.
The sub-divisional administration later controlled the situation and shifted 150 homeless families to Jonai where they have been given shelter in two relief camps.
The relief camps have been set up at Jonai Higher Secondary School and Three-Jey English schools.
Several other flood-affected families, who were evicted from the forest land, have been sent back to their respective villages to take shelter on the raised platforms.
Officials said the administration is supplying food and other essential items to the homeless families in the relief camps.
The sub-divisional administration has reported the situation to the state government to take up rehabilitation policy for the people who have been rendered homeless by floods.
“We will take up the issue with the land revenue department for rehabilitation of the landless families. The situation is tense but under control,” said Jonai assistant commissioner Pritam Kr Das.
Meanwhile, the Jonai unit of All Mising Students Union (TMPK) and several community organizations have demanded the authority to take rehabilitation measures for the families who have lost their homes due to flash floods.