Assam tragedy: 11 killed in Tinsukia as high voltage wire falls on mob during police firing

At least 11 people were killed and 20 others were seriously injured when a high voltage wire hit by bullets fell on demonstrators as police fired in the air to disperse them at Pangeree in upper Assam on Monday.

Police said the incident took place when a large number of protestors armed with matchets and sticks pelted stones at Pangeree Police Station in Tinsukia district and tried to crowd it demanding that those arrested in connection with the killing of two persons in the area three days ago be handed over to them, police said.

Representational image. Reuters

They threw stones and broke glass panes of the police station.

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"A group of people from neighbouring villages laid siege to the police station on Monday morning. The mob was demanding the police to hand over to them five murder accused, who were arrested over a recent murder case," a police official said.

Police then fired in the air to control the mob and the bullets hit an overhead high tension electric wire causing it to fall on the demonstrators.

Nine of them died on the spot and one died at Tinsukia Civil Hospital. Another person died on way to Assam Medical College Hospital in neighbouring Dibrugarh district.

Senior district civil and police officials along with central paramilitary forces and police reinforcements have
rushed to the spot.

The officials were holding meetings with the protestors to neutralise the situation, the police said.

Three days ago a man, his son and daughter-in-law were abducted by unidentified persons at Pangeree area and while the son escaped from their kidnappers, the bodies of the two others were recovered later, police said.

Police had arrested five persons in this connection and the mob had demanded that they be handed over to them for punishment.

Meanwhile, Assam BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal expressed concern over the incident and demanded a high-level probe.

Sonowal, the union minister of youth affairs and sports, also announced Rs.1 lakh compensation to the families of each of the deceased and Rs.25,000 to those injured.