Police lathicharge KMSS members, injure 50

Police today lathicharged agitators protesting against eviction at Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam and demanding land rights to indigenous people and injured around 50 KMSS members.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi, who was leading the agitators, was also detained by the police at Tezpur.
The trouble began when KMSS organised a rally and wanted to take out a procession at Tezpur, the headquarter town of Sonitpur district. But the police objected to it on the ground that there was no official permission for it.
When the protesters did not relent, police resorted to lathicharge and detained Gogoi.
Police claimed that the protesters had attacked them and the force had to resort to lathicharge in which around 50 agitators of KMSS were injured.

"They (protestors) were violating the law and did not have any permission for the procession in the town. It is a law and order situation, Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Prithipal Singh said.

"So we had to take Gogoi into the custody. He was released after two hours," he added.
After his release, Gogoi told the media that the BJP-led government in the state was trying to destroy the democratic environment in Assam and that there was total anarchy.
"Until and unless Amchang eviction is stopped and land patta is provided to the people on the basis of Forest Rights Act 2006, KMSS with the support of various indigenous groups of the state will continue the movement," he added.

Protests were held by KMSS supporters in Guwahati also against the eviction drive at the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary located near the city.