Assam: 11 dead as police firing goes wrong

Police fired in the air to disperse protesters who were demanding them to hand over those arrested in connection with the killing of two persons in Tinsukia.

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Protesters were demanding those arrested in connection with the killing of two persons in Tinsukia be handed over to them. (Source: Google maps)

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 today.

Police said the incident took place when a large number of protesters armed with machetes and sticks, pelted stones at Pangeree Police Station in Tinsukia district and tried to gherao 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.

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

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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 protesters to neutralise the situation, the police said.

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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.

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Assam