Naxal link to anti-eviction stir: Gogoi

The Assam government suspects a “Maoist design” behind the ongoing anti-eviction agitation launched by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS),which had led to the death of three persons as a protest rally turned violent and clashed with the police in the heart of the state capital last week,Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said here on Tuesday.

“The government has every reason to infer that Maoists may have infiltrated the KMSS which is fighting for the landless in the state. We have confirmed inputs that some members of the KMSS led by Akhil Gogoi had undergone training with Maoists in Orissa and Jharkhand. Two persons have been already arrested recently,” Gogoi said.

He said the people who took part in last Wednesday’s protest rally in Guwahati were armed with sticks and that they openly attacked police personnel. “Maoists do not believe in democratic norms. They believe in violence,and last week’s incidents in Guwahati are enough to suspect that the KMSS is inspired by Maoists,” the Chief Minister said.

While three persons,including a nine-year old boy,all part of the protest rally,were killed in alleged police firing,Guwahati City SSP Deepak Chaudhury had to be shifted to New Delhi for better treatment after he was severely assaulted by a section of the protesters.