The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to file a detailed affidavit in regards to the killings during the eviction drive in Assam’s Sipajhar on September 23.
Two persons, including a minor, had died due to police firing following a clash between protestors and officials of Darrang district administration during an eviction drive in Sipajhar on September 23.
The Gauhati High Court has granted the Assam government a three-week time to file its reply and listed the matter for November 3.
A two-judge bench of Gauhati High Court headed by chief justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and justice Soumitra Saikia was hearing the plea filed by Assam leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia against the “forced eviction”.
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“This is a big tragedy, very unfortunate. Those who are guilty, if at all must be punished, no doubt about that,” the Gauhati HC said.
Chief justice Sudhanshu Dhulia added: “Khoon zameen par gir gaya (blood has been spilt).”
The Gauhati High Court bench, while pulling up the BJP-led government in Assam, asked if it believed that the National Rehabilitation Policy was not applicable in the state.
Notably, a video from the incident went viral in the social media, in which a photographer, Bijoy Bonia, was seen stomping violently on the body of a man, who was shot down by the police.