One person was killed and several others injured after police fired at a group of agitators who blocked a National Highway in Assam’s Golapara district on Friday protesting against the Government’s apathy towards the problems of ‘D’ voters and over the issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The incident took place at Kharubosa area in Golapara district when over hundred people took to the streets protesting against the Government’s alleged apathy towards the problems of ‘D’ voters in Assam and over the alleged harassment to a section of citizens on the pretext of inclusion of their names in the NRC.
“The protestors did not take permission for holding the protest in the area. However, our forces tried to desist them from holding the protest blocking the National Highway No 37. Our force first resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd,” said Golapara SP, Amitabh Sinha.
“A section of the agitators, however, regrouped later and attacked the security forces pelting them with stones. They also attacked the vehicles plying on the National Highway forcing the security forces to resort to blank firing,” said the SP while adding that one of the agitators Yakub Ali got injured in the firing and died instantly.
Police said that the agitation was organized by an advocate Nazrul Islam, who was involved in attacking a judge in a foreigners tribunal of Golapara district on February this year. Islam and few of his colleagues had in February this year attacked a judge in foreigners tribunal in the district after the judge declared some people as illegal foreigners.
Police said that the situation is under control now and security had been intensified in and around the area so that it does not escalate.
The advocate and his colleagues also ransacked the office of the judge. Islam and his colleagues were arrested and sent to judicial custody later. Islam was out on bail recently.
According to official records, there are a total of 1,36,448 D voters or doubtful voters in Assam. The names of the doubtful voters are included in the electoral rolls but they cannot cast their votes due to doubtful credentials about their Indian citizenship.