Assam Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed has been arrested from his official residence in Guwahati this evening for making provocative statements in reference to the last week's violent eviction drive in the state.
The arrest comes a day after the Congress served a show-cause notice to the three-time MLA from Baghbar justified the killing of eight people in Darrang district around 40 years ago at the same area where last week's eviction drive took place.
He called the eight people, seen as martyrs of agitation in the Assamese society, "murderers".
Mr Ahmed apparently made the remarks while reacting to reports that said alleged encroachers in Darrang district disrespected the memory of those who died during the 1983 Assam agitation.
His comment has evoked strong reactions across Assam and multiple FIRs have been filed against him.
The Congress while issuing the show-cause notice said the MLA issued the statements "with the intention of damaging the party's image" ahead of the bypolls in the state.
It also added that the "insensitive" statements made by him have "great propensity" to destroy the social harmony of the state.
On September 20, the Darrang district authorities began evictions at four places in Dholpur, about 9 km from Sipajhar, and nearly 800 families - most of whom were Bengali-speaking Muslims - were removed from 4,500 bighas of land the government claimed ownership for.
The drive, however, turned violent, leaving at least two persons dead in police firing and several others injured in clashes.
Eviction Drives, Lathi-Charge, And Protesting "Encroachers" In Assam Eviction Drive Continues On Second Day In Assam Reserve Forest Bulldozers In Action As Eviction Drive Begins In Assam Reserve Forest Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think Maharashtra Chief Minister Pick Contentious For Both Ruling, Opposition Camps PM Modi: Culture, Cuisine, Cricket Strengthen India-Guyana Ties Elon Musk Slams Australia's Plan To Ban Social Media For Kids Under 16 Assam Chief Minister Unveils These Facilities At Legislative Complex Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.