Assam govt forms panel to probe Kaziranga anti-eviction deaths

Guwahati, Oct 25 (PTI) The Assam government has constituted a single-member committee to probe the incidents leading to death of two persons during an eviction drive at Kaziranga National Park last month.

"The government of Assam, vide a notification issued on October 24, has constituted a One-Man Inquiry Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Department, Rajiv Kumar Bora," an official release said.

The committee will submit its report within 30 days from the date of issue of the notification.

It has been constituted to inquire into the circumstances leading to the death of two persons and injury to many, including police personnel, besides loss of public properties due to violence, it added.

"The Committee will ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the incident. It will also ascertain if any individual or organisation is involved in inciting the protesters against the eviction drive and the authorities carrying out the eviction and if so, will fix responsibility," the statement said.

The mandate of the committee also include inquiring any lapse on the part of the police and civil administration, and if so, fixing the responsibility.

It will also find out if encroachers were still occupying any forest land of Kaziranga Park, and if so, will suggest ways for peaceful eviction of such encroachers.

"Further, the committee will suggest measures for regulation of such violent protest causing loss of life and injury and loss of public property," the release said. Two persons were killed during the eviction drive conducted by the Nagaon district administration at Kaziranga on September 19 last as per the Gauhati High Court order, dated October 9, 2015. PTI TR SUS ZMN PS