Assam: 2 killed in West Karbi Anglong district’s unrest

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Guwahati, Dec 23 (IANS) Violent unrest in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district has claimed the lives of two individuals, prompting a massive security response and high-level monitoring by the state government.

The situation remains tense with fresh incidents of arson reported on Tuesday, as authorities scramble to restore normalcy.

The violence erupted in Kheroni Bazaar on Monday when protesters, agitating for the eviction of alleged encroachers from Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands, clashed with police.

The demonstrators, who have been on a hunger strike for 12 days, reportedly torched around 15 shops, attacked the local police station, and set ablaze the residence of Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

Police opened fire to disperse the crowd, injuring at least four people, including three protesters and one policeman.

Officials said the immediate trigger was a police attempt to remove the protesters from the area, which escalated into stone-pelting and widespread arson.

The agitators, representing various political and social organisations, allege that the encroachers, mostly from Bihar, have illegally occupied reserved grazing lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

In response, Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, who is camping in the violence-hit zone, appealed for calm and cooperation.

He confirmed that additional security forces have been deployed across sensitive locations and that senior officers are engaging with community leaders to defuse tensions through dialogue.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives, calling the incident “deeply painful.”

He assured that the state government stands firmly with the affected families and will provide all necessary assistance.

Sarma announced that more security personnel will be deployed in the Kheroni area from Wednesday and emphasised that the administration is in constant touch with stakeholders to restore peace.

“We want to hold a peaceful dialogue and resolve the underlying issues. I appeal to everyone to maintain calm and not spread rumours,” Sarma said, reiterating the government’s commitment to law and order and the safety of public and private property.

The Chief Minister also urged all sections of society to cooperate, stating that peace and stability are essential for the region’s development.

–IANS

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The CJI virtually held back his tears as he opened his heart at a lawyers’ event in Maharashtra, saying, “I am happy my father’s dream to see me become a judge has come true.”

The CJI, the first Buddhist to occupy the top post, fondly remembered his father and his early days in the legal profession at the 161st-anniversary celebrations of the Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI), an organisation he joined in 1983.

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Speaking at the school, Chief Justice Gavai said, “Whatever height I have reached today, my teachers and this school have played a significant role in it. The education and values I received here gave direction to my life.”

“My journey in public speaking began on this very stage. Through speech competitions and cultural programmes, I gained confidence. It is because of those opportunities that I am what I am today,” he recalled.

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Present on the occasion were Maharashtra’s Skill Development Minister and Mumbai City Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Bombay High Court Justice Madhav Jamadar, Chikitsak Samuh President Kishore Rangnekar, Secretary Dr Gurunath Pandit, Principal Sanchita Gawde, and other dignitaries.

Justice Gavai comes from a distinguished background. His father, Ramakrishna Suryabhan Gavai, was a prominent Ambedkarite leader and founder of the Republican Party of India (RPI).

Fondly known as Dadasaheb, the senior Gavai was also a member of the Lok Sabha from Amravati and served as the Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala between 2006 and 2011 during the tenure of the Congress-led UPA government. He passed away in 2015, four years before his son’s elevation to the Supreme Court.

Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

In the six years before his elevation, he was a part of around 700 Benches dealing with matters pertaining to a variety of subjects, including constitutional and administrative law, civil law, criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration law, electricity law, education matters and environmental law.

He has authored around 300 judgments, including that of the Constitution Bench on various issues, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental rights, human rights and legal rights of citizens.

Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, Justice Gavai became a permanent Judge in November 2005.

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ECI issues notice to LJP(RV) MP Veena Devi, husband over double voter ID allegations

Patna, Aug 14 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has served notices to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP, Veena Devi and her husband, JD(U) MLC Dinesh Singh, over allegations of holding dual voter identity cards, on Thursday.

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Haryana to establish natural, organic markets in Gurugram and Hisar

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