One person was killed in police firing in Goalpara district of Assam on Friday, when a protest over the ‘D’ (doubtful/disputed) voters’ list turned violent.
According to police, about 140 protesters gathered at Kharubosa area of the district and tried to stage a road blockade along National Highway 37 on Friday afternoon. “The protesters tried to park two trucks on the National Highway and were detained by police,” Superintendent of Police of Goalpara district Amitava Sinha told The Hindu .
Soon after the crowd was dispersed, a local advocate Nazrul Islam, who was leading the agitation, marched to the spot with around 400 protesters and tried to block the road again, he added. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
“However, the protesters started pelting stones at the police and the vehicles from a nearby railway track. Police fired shots in the air but somehow a youth Yakub Ali got injured. He was taken to a local hospital, but was declared brought dead,” added Mr. Sinha. He also said that the deceased was arrested on Saturday afternoon.
However, local activists claimed that “most of such ‘D’ voters have proper citizenship documents.”
In 1997, during revision of electoral rolls, the Election Commission had instructed that the letter ‘D’ be written against the names of voters whose citizenship credential were doubtful. These voters are not allowed to cast their votes. All such cases were referred to the foreigners’ tribunals.
