Guwahati, February 27 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that 16 people have been arrested in Azara, on the outskirts of Guwahati, for allegedly attacking police and other officials who had gone to serve eviction notices to encroachers.
He said that a permanent police camp is being set up in the area and asserted that all encroachers, who are "unknown people," will be evicted.
Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of a programme at the state BJP headquarters, Sarma said, "The notice was being served to these 'unknown people' when they attacked our police and district administration personnel."
Sarma maintained that the police had gone to serve a notice to a section of people in the Azara area, which falls under his constituency, when they were attacked.
"Even after 1.5 lakh bighas of land have been evicted in the state, encroachers continue to fight it. If the BJP is not in our state, they will not follow any rules and regulations," he claimed.
He maintained that the illegal settlers are "not indigenous people, but all unknown individuals."
Sarma, who also holds the Home department, said he directed action against the attackers, and about 16 have already been arrested.
"A permanent police camp will be set up there, and law will be tough against encroachers in the tribal belt and block areas," he added.