Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 24 (HBTV): Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh on Tuesday said that violence cannot be a means to achieve demands, referring to the ongoing unrest in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts of the state.
He said the government was ready to find a solution and was in talks with the protesters, adding that a date had already been set for future negotiations. According to the DGP, 48 police personnel have been injured so far in the violence.
Explaining the sequence of events, Singh said the situation escalated after a large crowd gathered in the districts on Monday. He said he had personally met the protesters and spoken to them in an attempt to defuse tensions. However, the situation worsened when the protest leader was taken to Guwahati for a medical check-up, following which misinformation spread that the leader had been arrested.
‘A huge crowd has gathered here since yesterday. I met the protesters and spoke with them. Last night, their leader was taken to Guwahati for a medical check-up as doctors felt his health was deteriorating due to the hunger strike. Still, someone spread misinformation that he was being arrested. Violence does not get anything for anybody,’ Singh told reporters.
He said protesters later attempted to take control of a bridge, and when police intervened, they were attacked. Singh said crude bombs and stones were thrown at police personnel, and he was personally attacked with bows and arrows.
‘Today, they tried to take over the bridge, and when we tried to stop them, they attacked us. Crude bombs and stones were thrown. I was attacked with bows and arrows. The government is in talks with them, and a date has been set. The Chief Minister had fixed a date, after which the hunger strike was withdrawn. But they have burnt shops, and 48 policemen have been injured till now,’ the DGP said.
He added that the police had videos and images of those involved and that legal action would be taken against those responsible. ‘Violence does not benefit anyone. We have all the videos and faces, and we will take legal action,’ he said.
Following the deterioration of the law-and-order situation, the Assam government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts. (ANI)