By IANS,
Guwahati : Three people were killed and five others injured as security forces opened fire to control a mob Friday in Assam’s Dhubri district where counting of votes was on for the recently held panchayat polls, officials said.
Indefinite curfew had been imposed in the entire Mankachar subdivision area following the incident, district administration officials said adding that counting of votes had also been stopped following the incident.
The incident took place at Mankachar subdivision under Dhubri, located over 300 km away from Assam’s main city Guwahati.
Assam’s IGP (Law and Order) S.N. Singh said the five injured included two policemen.
“The incident took place when the counting was on at a vote counting centre in Hatsingimari under Mankachar subdivision. Some of the winning candidates and their supporters took out a procession as some of the results were declared.
“Another group got angry at this and attacked them. As the security personnel tried to control the situation, the angry mob also attacked the security forces,” said Singh, adding that this forced the security personnel to use force.
“The security personnel first carried out a baton charge. However, the situation went violent and some of the attackers entered the counting centre and ransacked it. The security forces then retaliated with firing leading to death of three people.
“Two policemen were also injured during the attack,” he said.
On Tuesday, 21 people were killed in Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area in Goalpara district of Assam where the government tried to hold panchayat polls despite stiff opposition by the Rabha community organizations. While 14 were killed in firing by police and security forces, seven others died in group clashes.