BSF fires on mob in Assam, kills two, injures five

A Border Security Force contingent was today forced to open fire on a mob of roughly 10,000 people at Mankachar sub-division of Assam’s Dhubri district, killing two and wounding five as they attacked a vote counting centre set up for the recently concluded panchayat polls. The mob pelted stones on the paramilitary troopers compelling them to retaliate with bullets as they were thoroughly outnumbered, Times Now reported from Guwahati.[caption id=“attachment_626662” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Poll violence. Reuters[/caption] The two dead passed away in the spot while the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital. The administration is trying to rush in additional forces. However, Mankachar being located across the Brahmaputra neighbouring Bangladesh and the road to the area being circuitous, it won’t be easy for the administration to respond within a short notice. The violence started right after a candidate was declared winner and he was preparing for a victory march, Times Now reported. It is not clear whether the perpetrators were supporters or opposed the candidate. With the two deaths today, the death toll in panchayat poll-related violence in Assam has reached 24.