India, July 18 -- Assam Police on Friday arrested nine people in connection with the violent clashes that broke out during an extended eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area of Goalpara district on Thursday. The violence left one person dead and several injured.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday blamed Rahul Gandhi for stoking the violence and said the police are examining the speeches made by the Congress leader.

Goalpara senior superintendent of police (SSP) Nabaneet Mahanta confirmed the arrests and said the nine individuals were rounded up from multiple locations in and around Krishnai, where the reserve forest is located.

"Those arrested were actively involved in the violence - some were caught on video pelt...