Assam: Day after mob torches police station in Nagaon, homes of accused demolished
The Nagaon district administration on Sunday ordered a judicial probe into the alleged custodial death of a fish trader from Salonabari village. Following the death, a mob had set fire to a police station on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, bulldozers reached the village, about 6 km from the police station, and demolished the “illegal” homes of “those who were involved in setting fire to the police station,” police officers said. “There were about 40 people in the mob. We have identified and arrested eight… and 15 have been detained,” Assam special DGP (law and order) GP Singh said. A woman and a minor are among those picked up.
Singh claimed that the homes that were demolished belonged to “illegal settlers”. “They have settled on the land illegally or with forged documents,” Singh alleged, adding that the demolition was wrapped up in the morning itself. “Everything is under control now,” he said. “We have ordered an independent probe into the alleged custodial death, and if any officer is found guilty, we will take strong action. But such an allegation does not mean you set fire to a police station. You don’t target the police and expect nothing to happen. Arson cannot be allowed,” he told indianexpress.com.