Simmering tension still prevails in Raiyabari area under Killa police station following raging violence on Sunday as clash erupted between indigenous people and Muslim inhabitants over land occupation disputes. The violence left as many as 22 including four policemen injured. Police and TSR personnel were deployed. Raiyabari had once in 1999 hit the headlines for one of the gruesome incident- NLFT militants collaborators committing rapes for months in the village forcing villagers (123) families to leave the area. One enquiry commission- MC Roy Commission- was also set up to look into the incident.
On Sunday the clash was triggered off over an old land dispute case.
One group claimed that they were cultivating the forest reserve lands for decades and produce fruits and crops. However, of late, another group wanted them to vacate the land as they got patta of the land and wanted to settle there. The dispute was going on for quite sometime but there was no solution sight. On Sunday it got complicated.
The groups armed with lathis and daos clashed violently. They attack and retaliation came with equal force that left 22 persons severely injured.
Killa police and TSR led by OC rushed to the spot but then they faced the angry mob that set the police vehicle on fire and left four policemen injured. They were soon shifted to Killa primary health centre.
After receiving information on the incident, Addl. SP of Gomati Sudip Paul and OC of Radhakishorepur police station along with a large contingent of police, TSR and CRPF personnel reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
The injured persons were taken to Gomati district hospital and some of them were referred to GBP hospital.
Tribal Welfare Minister Jamatia visited the injured people at Gomati district hospital.
A Congress delegation led by Udaipur district president Soumitra Biswas also met the injured people in the hospital.
The CPM also issued a statement asking the government to meet the situation immediately and asked all not indulge in any communal overtures or acts.
