Friday, March 29, 2024
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Police fires to quell anti-dam protesters in Assam

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CHAULDHOWA (ASSAM): Police fired in the air and burst teargas shells for the second day here on Tuesday to evict protesters demonstrating against the construction of a hydro-electric project at Lakhimpur, even as authorities held talks with KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to resolve the stand off.

Police acted on protesters who blocked NH-52 on the border of Lakhimpur-Dhemaji districts in Assam which links Arunachal Pradesh and pelted stones at security forces.

In a bid to resolve the confrontation between the administration and protesters, Lakhimpur district deputy commissioner Anwaruddin Choudhury held a meeting with Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi.

For withdrawing the 11-day blockade, Gogoi gave three conditions — the government hold talks with the protesters, the arrested protesters be released and those injured in the lathicharge be given medical care and the protesters be allowed to re-establish their camps damaged yesterday.

The deputy commissioner agreed to the first two conditions but declined to accept the last demand. Continuing their blockade since December 16, thousands of protesters demonstrating against construction of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project at Lakhimpur re-assembled here this morning to continue with their indefinite road blockade on the highway. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) which is constructing the Lower Subansiri Project, has also said it is ready to hold discussions with the protesters for ending the imbroglio. When the protestors refused to allow a vehicle of NHPC to pass, police and CRPF personnel resorted to lathicharge in which four persons, including a woman, were injured in the lathicharge. The protesters then pelted stones at the security personnel injuring some of them, the sources said.

Security forces then burst tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters, sources said.

Slogans like “Give blood but do not allow construction of the hydro-electric project” were raised by the protesters, who put up barricades by placing boulders, felling trees and burning tyres to stop the security forces from advancing towards them.

Five anti-dam organisations – KMSS, Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Takam Mising Poring Kebang, All Tai Ahom Students Union and All Deori Students Union are continuing with their blockade against transportation of construction materials to the hydroelectric project site.

The administration of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts had yesterday appealed the protesters to withdraw their agitation and allow movement of vehicles between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through NH-52.

Meanwhile, normal life has also been hit by the 48 hour-bandh called in the two districts from 6 AM yesterday by the five organisations against yesterday’s police action.

They claimed that people affected by floods feared that mega dams would bring more misery to their lives as they were dependent on rivers. (PTI)

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