GUWAHATI, June 24 � Alleging that the State Government was displaying an apathetic attitude towards the bereaved families of those killed in Wednesday�s police firing following the KMSS�s violent protests at Dispur Last Gate, the All Guwahati Students� Union (AGSU) today demanded of the authorities to provide adequate financial compensation to the families.
Biren Kalita, Shiva Sarma, and Ruhul Ali, a minor, were killed in the police firing on that day. �These three families should immediately be compensated,� the AGSU said in a statement.
In addition, the AGSU called for appropriate financial assistance to all those affected by the violence � either from the government side or from the violent agitatiors � at the earliest.
Criticizing the Government for failing to address the nagging issue of rapid degradation of hills, forests and wetlands due to growing human settlements, the student body demanded that the Government prepare a holistic land policy keeping in mind environmental concerns as well as the interests of the local people.
�Successive governments, including the present Tarun Gogoi-led Government that has been in power for the third consecutive term, have been neglecting the issue of according protection to the hills, forests and wetlands through a practical, scientific mechanism. Now all of a sudden, the Government started an eviction drive targeting the local and indigenous populace residing in the hills for years without having any progressive land policy,� it said.
The AGSU also condemned the entire development on Wednesday when a supposed peaceful protest called by the KMSS demanding a halt to the ongoing eviction drive turned into a frenzied mayhem resulting in police firing besides burning down of vehicles and destruction of public and private property.
�We condemn the violence in its entirety � including police firing and vandalism and destruction of property and burning of vehicles by the agitators,� the All Guwahati Students� Union added.
