Assam police said they opened fire in Tinsukia as the situation had gone out of control.
Highlights
- Cops were firing in the air to disperse protesters attacking them
- Protesters wanted 5 men held in a murder case handed over to them
- Cops in Tinsukia district are meeting protesters to calm the situation
Eleven people have died and 19 were injured as a high voltage cable fell on a group of protesters in Pengiri in Assam's Tinsukia district following police firing. 10 people died due to electrocution and one was killed in police firing.
An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Pengiri police station area in upper Assam's Tinsukia district.
A 48-hour bandh has been called by the All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (AATTSA) in the district to protest against the incident.
All shops in Digboi town, 35 km from the incident spot, are shut and roads are deserted. No violence has been reported so far.
The police had opened fire to disperse a group of protesters, who, armed with machetes and sticks, had ransacked the police station and attacked them. They were demanding those arrested in connection with the murder of two persons in the area three days ago be handed over to them, the police said.
Some of the bullets, which were fired in air, hit an electric pole, which collapsed and the high tension wire fell on the protesters. Nine persons died on the spot and one died at Tinsukia Civil Hospital. Some of the protesters also sustained bullet injuries.
"The police could not stand by and let a mob wanting to deliver instant justice have their way. That's why we had to fire. We fired both in the air and at the protestors because the situation was out of control," said Mukesh Sahay, Director General of the state police.
Senior administration officials along with central paramilitary forces and police reinforcements have rushed to the spot. The officials are holding meetings with the protestors in a bid to control the situation, the police said.
The murder took place three days ago. A family of three - a man, his son and daughter-in-law -- had been abducted. While the young man managed to escape, the bodies of the two others were recovered later, the police said.
Five persons had been arrested in the case.