Judicial inquiry into the Sipajhar firing incident that claimed the lives of at least two persons on September 23 last year gets underway.
The committee headed by Justice (Retd) BD Agarwal, on Tuesday, visited Dhalpur at Sipajhar in Darrang district of Assam to obtain first-hand information about the incident.
The panel met officials of the Darrang district administration, stake holders, members of the victims’ families, individuals and voluntary organizations.
“Today chairman of the committee made a preliminary visit to the district prior to the starting of the judicial procedures. He visited the site of incident, interacted with the senior officials of the district and police administration and also spoke to the public who had assembled at the circuit house,” Darrang deputy commissioner Pranab Kumar Sarmah informed Northeast Now on Tuesday evening.
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He added: “He (chairman of the committee) briefed the public about the judicial hearing procedure. No statement was recorded by him.”
The Assam government had constituted the judicial inquiry committee to probe the clashes that broke out in Assam’s Sipajhar on September 23 last year during an eviction drive.
On September 23 last year, when officials of the Darrang district administration supported by a huge contingent of armed security personnel reached Siajhar-Dholpur area to carry out an eviction drive, the locals protested.
The protest soon turned ugly, as demonstrators attacked policemen and other district administration officials with sticks and other sharp weapons.
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With situation going out of hands, the police resorted to lathi-charge.
However, with situation still not in control and being attacked, the police resorted to opening fire, resulting in death of two persons.