An eviction drive targeting illegal encroachments near Guwahati turned into a violent and chaotic event on Thursday, as a large Muslim mob resorted to an unprovoked attack on law enforcement officers. The result of this dangerous confrontation was the injury of multiple police officers and the deaths of two attackers. The mob's aggressive actions forced the police to open fire, killing "Haider Ali and Juwahid Ali," who later "succumbed to bullet injuries."

The violence unfolded when police and administrative officials arrived in Kachutali village in Sonapur, located in the eastern suburbs of Guwahati. Their mission was to evict what had been identified as illegal settlers occupying a 100-bigha plot of land. Approximately 150 people from the Muslim community had unlawfully taken over government land in the area, leading to this eviction drive.

What began as a peaceful effort to remove illegal encroachers quickly turned into an uncontrollable mob attack. Despite several days of peaceful evictions, the scene transformed on Thursday when a mob of over a thousand armed individuals viciously attacked the police. Wielding sticks and sharp weapons, the mob displayed a clear disregard for law and order, launching their violent assault against the authorities.

In addition to their physical attack, the mob took to pelting stones at police personnel and vehicles, causing significant damage to both. Several vehicles were damaged in the melee, and numerous officers sustained injuries. Among the wounded was a female constable, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the mob’s rage. The attack did not stop there, as Revenue Circle Officer Nitul Khatoniar also suffered injuries, illustrating the mob’s violent resistance to the eviction.

This unlawful action by the illegal encroachers escalated to a point where law enforcement had no choice but to respond with force. The deaths of the two attackers, Haider Ali and Juwahid Ali, were a direct consequence of the lawlessness displayed by the encroachers, further highlighting the severity of the situation.

As the situation spiraled out of control, police initially attempted to disperse the aggressive mob by "firing in the air." However, this measure proved ineffective, and when the violence intensified, the authorities had no choice but to "open fire on the mob," resulting in several attackers being shot. The intensity of the attack was such that, according to police sources, "the mob was so violent that the cops were forced to flee from the spot." This highlights the sheer ferocity of the illegal encroachers, who were determined to resist the eviction process at any cost.

Following the chaotic confrontation, the injured were rushed to Sonapur District Hospital, where "Haider Ali and Juwahid Ali succumbed to bullet injuries." The gravity of their injuries meant they could not be saved despite medical intervention. Other injured individuals, including one Shahjahan Ali, were later transferred to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for further treatment, underscoring the scale of the injuries caused by the police's necessary response to the mob’s attack.

One of the injured police officers, a female constable, provided a critical account of the violence. She stated that "the mob included a large number of women," showing that the attack was not limited to just male participants but had broader involvement. The constable explained that the police were merely "guarding the eviction operation" when they were suddenly ambushed by the mob, which used "stones, machetes, sticks, and other weapons" in the assault.

The police have now initiated an investigation into the case to uncover the full details of the violent clash. However, as of now, "no statement regarding the incident" has been released by the authorities. Despite the absence of an official statement, the situation in Kosutoli remains volatile, with tensions running high. In response to this unrest, "additional forces have been deployed in the area" to ensure the situation doesn’t escalate further and to maintain law and order.

The eviction drive that led to this confrontation was launched after locals lodged complaints about illegal settlers occupying both government land and tribal belt land areas. These settlers were not merely local residents but were suspected to be "illegal foreigners," who had been using the waterways of Kalang and Digaru rivers as their entry point. Once they arrived, they quickly began constructing houses on government land, taking advantage of the isolated location and limited oversight.

According to local reports, the encroachment activities were well-coordinated. Locals had witnessed tractors transporting construction materials to the area under the cover of darkness, further indicating that this was not a sporadic act but a planned and organized illegal settlement. The continuous movement of materials and the sudden appearance of makeshift homes alarmed the community, prompting them to reach out to the authorities for help.

Upon receiving these complaints, the administration took immediate action. They conducted a survey of the area to verify the claims, checked documents, and soon discovered that the settlers were indeed "illegally encroaching on government land." Following this discovery, the administration followed proper legal procedures by issuing several notices to the illegal settlers, requesting them to vacate the houses they had built unlawfully. However, the settlers remained defiant, refusing to comply with the eviction notices. Their refusal left the administration with no choice but to initiate the eviction drive, which ultimately led to the unfortunate events that unfolded.