Mob fury at Pengaree leaves 11 dead

Police gunshot hits high-tension wire, 10 electrocuted, additiol SP's revolver stched, police station vandalized

Our Bureau

Digboi/ TINSUKIA, April 11: An explosion of mob fury and police action led to a disaster at Pengaree in Tinsukia district on Monday, with at least 11 persons losing their lives and 18 others receiving injuries, some of them hurt critically.

One person died in police firing, while ten others were electrocuted after a gunshot hit an overhead high tension wire which spped and came down on the mob.

According to reports, a mob of more than a thousand people belonging to the tea-tribe community from Duamara and nearby tea garden areas marched towards Pengaree police station in the morning, demanding the handing over of three miscreants who had murdered Sunni Garg and Lakhi Garh of No. 2 lini Gaon on April 6 last.

A police team led by Additiol SP Lamhao Doungel initially tried to pacify the crowd, but had to fire in the air after the mob turned violent and assaulted him physically, with miscreants stching Doungel's service revolver.

During the blank fire, one bullet hit an overhead high tension electric wire that broke and fell upon the mob. Ten persons were electrocuted on the spot.

Till filing of report, none of the dead could be identified. The situation in and around Pengaree is tense and communication along the route remains spped.

The injured protestors were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals, while some were referred to TInsukia and Dibrugarh.

Sources said the mob completely vandalized the Pengaree police station after the incident and some police personnel were also injured. Forces from the nearby police stations were called in to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Gogoi later appealed to the people to exercise restraint and maintain peace and tranquility. He asked the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia district to maintain law and order. Gogoi also asked the concerned authority to provide necessary treatment to all persons injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Assam BJP president Sarbanda 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.

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