Assam human rights panel asks govt to give details of probe into eviction drive violence

The commission’s move comes a week after the clashes at Garukhuti in Darrang district based on a letter by senior Congressman and leader of opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia urging AHRC to take suo-motu cognizance of the incident.

Published on: Oct 1, 2021, 24:59:31 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Thursday asked the state government to give details on whether any inquiry has been ordered into last week’s violence during an eviction drive that claimed lives of two civilians and injured nearly 20 others including 11 policemen.

The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Thursday asked the state government to give details on whether a probe has been ordered into last week’s violence during an eviction drive that claimed lives of two people in Darrang district. (PTI PHOTO.)

The commission’s move comes a week after the clashes at Garukhuti in Darrang district based on a letter by senior Congressman and leader of opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia urging AHRC to take suo-motu cognizance of the incident.

The AHRC letter addressed to principal secretary of home and political department asks the government to inform whether any commission has been constituted to probe the incident. The government has been asked to treat the matter as urgent and file a reply within 21 days.

Following the incident that took place on September 23, the state government had announced that an inquiry into the incident would be conducted by a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court. No notification in that regard has been issued yet.

“I had submitted the letter to AHRC seeking their intervention as there was human rights violation during the eviction drive that claimed 2 lives. But since the state government has already announced an inquiry, a separate probe by AHRC is unlikely to take place,” said Debabrata Saikia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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