The Assam government has decided to shift the 10th Police Battalion located in the heart of the state capital Guwahati to Sonapur on the outskirts of the city. This area is near Kachutali, where a massive encroachment removal operation took place a few months ago. Two people were killed and many were injured in that action. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma himself visited the said place on Wednesday to review the matter. He said that the battalion is being shifted to this area so that encroachment can be prevented here again in future.
The battalion will be established in Kachutali area
A senior officer said that this area has been selected for the relocation of the 10th battalion. Kachutali area falls in the tribal belt of Assam, where only development of government projects is allowed. About 100 bighas of land will be allotted for the battalion in this area. In total, there is about 1,000 bighas of green and open area here, which will further enhance the beauty of the battalion campus. The government will ensure that all the necessary facilities are available for the battalion so that it can carry out its responsibility effectively.
Past incident of encroachment removal and future plan
On September 12 last year, during the removal of encroachment here, the villagers attacked the police and officials with knives, sticks and stones. The police opened fire to control the crowd, in which two protesters were killed and about 40 people were injured. The Chief Minister said that non-tribals already living in this area can live but new non-tribals will not be able to settle here. He also said that some land brokers are trying to resettle the people who have been removed from the encroachment. The government has decided to take action against these brokers under the National Security Act (NSA).
Other future development proposals and government’s strict policy
Sarma said that the government will form a police battalion in this area so that the land can be kept safe in future. Apart from this, the use of the remaining land in public interest will also be considered. It is possible that a medical college or university may be built here. Also, land can be allotted to landless tribal people. The Chief Minister also said that the construction of the battalion will start in the next six months and it will take about three years to complete. He said that those who are still living in the encroached area are mostly staying near the mosque. The government has made it clear that those people can apply for land where they have come from, but no new colony will be built here.
