Guwahati: An 18-year-old man, Haidar Ali, was killed by police gunfire during an eviction drive in Kachutali village, Sonapur, on September 12. His mother, Shahar Banu, was seen lamenting the loss, mourning her son’s absence, and expressing her grief about his death.
According to Shahar Banu, her son was an e-rickshaw driver who had been transporting school and college students. On the day of the incident, Haidar was reportedly caught in the crossfire between protesters and the police as he stopped his e-rickshaw near the railway line. The confrontation occurred as tensions escalated during the eviction process.
Moqbul Hussain, Haidar’s father, described the tragic scene, stating that his son was killed when he halted his vehicle amid the clash between police and protesters.
In a separate incident on September 12, another 18-year-old, Jubahir Ali, was also killed by police gunfire during the same eviction drive. Both Haidar Ali and Jubahir Ali, identified as Bengali Muslims, were shot dead by the police, and no accountability has been taken.
The eviction drive, which began peacefully on September 9, aimed to clear 248 bighas (approximately 150 acres) of land in a tribal belt affecting around 151 families. However, the situation turned violent on September 12. According to Hasan Ali, a local resident, the destruction of belongings and food grains left by the displaced families by JCB machines led to heightened tensions and a confrontation with the police.
The authorities have yet to comment on the specifics of the incident, and an investigation is ongoing into the circumstances leading to the deaths of Haidar Ali and Jubahir Ali. The Chief Minister, the government, and right-wing media have faced criticism for their responses to the killings of the two teenagers.
