One killed, four injured in Assam clashes

Guwahati, December 24

An Assam Police personnel was killed and four civilians were injured during a clash at a remote location in Biswanath police district on Thursday.

Police said that the victim, Dwipen Hazarika was seriously injured during the mob attack on the police team and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

"A police team, including six armed personnel went to the Beltoli Nirola Basti, a village dominated by religious minority people, based on information that a thief, against whom there are cases pending, has been taking shelter in the area. The police team cordoned off the entire area and arrested the thief. However, the people of the area gathered and put up a resistance, by attacking the police team with stones," Superintendent of Police Manabendra Rai said.

"The incident took place around 2.00 a.m. and the police team had resorted to firing to disperse the crowd leading to injury of the four persons," Rai said.

"We have arrested seven people for their involvement in the attack and inciting the mob and search is on to nab other culprits involved in the attack," the SP said.

Some locals, however, said that when the police team came to arrest the thief, rumours spread that police have come to arrest suspected Bangladeshi migrants in the area. The locals put up a resistance as according to them there is no Bangladeshi migrant there in the area.

IANS