Days after the Sonbhadra firing that left 10 people dead, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the foundation of the incident was laid in 1955 when the then Tehsildar did the unlawful act of registering the land of Gram Samaj in the name of Adarsh cooperative society.
At least 10 people, including three women, died and over 24 were injured in a clash between Gond and Gujjar communities over a land dispute in Sonbhadra district on Wednesday.
Speaking on the incident, Yogi said that the state government has ordered the suspension of four officials.
A three-person committee has been constituted to investigate the matter from 1955 till now and has been directed to give a report to the government in 10 days.
Yogi Adityanath said a total of 29 people including the village chief have been arrested till now in the case and a single barrel gun, three double-barrel guns and a rifle have been seized by the police.
The CM further assured that the strictest action will be taken against those responsible for the carnage.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier blamed the Congress for the incident.
In a statement given in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Friday, the Chief Minister said that seeds of the dispute were sown in 1955 when the Congress was in power.
According to reports, quoted by IANS, the village head and the main accused in the massacre, Yagya Dutt, had brought about 200 men on 32 tractor trolleys to take possession of the disputed land.
After the tribals who were tilling the land, opposed his attempt to take possession of the land, Yagya Dutt’s men fired at them for over half-an-hour.