Anti-CAA Movement: 2 Assam Agitators Gunned Down by "Miscreants", Claims Govt

Guwahati, March 2, 2020:

The protests against the Amendment of the Citizenship Amendment Act that began last December and left no less than five people dead. However, in a latest twist, the Assam Government has claimed that at least 2 of those people were gunned down by miscreants' bullets.

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Responding to a query by Chaygaon MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed earlier today in the Assembly, Assam Minister Chandramohan Patowary, speaking on behalf of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said that at least two people -- Dipanjol Das from Kamrup (Rural) and Ajijur Rahman from Darang districts - were killed by unnamed "miscreants". Patowary also informed that a magisterial inquiry has been initiated to ensure that the Government is able to reach the bottom of the issue.

At the same time, Patowary admitted that 3 of the agitators -- Sam Satafford from Guwahati; Abdul Aalim from Barpeta and Ishwar Nayak from Udalguri -- were gunned down in firing by police.

Patowary also informed that 430 cases were registered and 573 people were arrested for various law and order violation cases during. Of those, 189 people have been lodged in separate jails across Assam.

It may be recalled that the protests began in earnest across Assam with Guwahati as the epicentre during one of the darkest phases of Assamese history. In the confusion that ensured, people were left running helter skelter and many bystanders were reportedly hit by stray bullets.

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Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, in an earlier Assembly session condoled the demise of the unfortunate five. However, the Government attributing two deaths to "miscreants" is a new twist in the now old saga of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

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