The Assam Police on Friday arrested 10 persons in connection with the clashes that erupted a day earlier at the site of an eviction drive in the Betbari area of Goalpara district, ANI quoted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying.

The violence on Thursday resulted in the death of a 19-year-old identified as Shakaur Ali, whose home was demolished when authorities in Goalpara cleared 140 hectares of land in the Paikan Reserve Forest on Saturday. The eviction drive displaced 1,080 families, most of whom are Muslims of Bengali origin.

Since then, the displaced families had been living in tents and makeshift tarpaulin huts. Officials had asked them to dismantle the structures.

On Thursday morning, the authorities dug up a road that provided connectivity to the settlement, which led to protests and sparked the clashes.

Goalpara Senior Superintendent of Police Nabaneet Mahanta claimed on Friday that those arrested “were caught on video pelting stones and obstructing officials”, reported Hindustan Times.

“We are reviewing more footage and expect to make further arrests,” the newspaper quoted an unidentified police official as saying.

In the aftermath of the violence, heavy security was deployed in Krishnai and surrounding areas, and curfew-like restrictions were temporarily imposed.

Later in the day, Sarma blamed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for instigating the clashes.

“As per our information, some Congress leaders visited the area on Wednesday night and they planned the attack on government officials,” Sarma said on Thursday. “We are investigating the matter further.”

He added that the police were examining speeches made by Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during their recent visits to the state. The state government will not hesitate to take legal action against the Congress leaders in case of any evidence showing their involvement, said the Assam chief minister.

Also read: How can Indian democracy allow the open oppression of Bengali-origin Muslims by Assam?