Assam: Several people including police personnel injured in Dhemaji clash

Police was forced to resort to lathicharge and fire teargas on protesters, after a mob attacked several vehicles.

The situation turned more violent at Silapathar in the northern Assam district with mob taking part in a rally organized by the Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanvay Samiti (NIBBUSS) and pelting stones at security personnel.

The protestors also vandalized several vehicles and shops.

To control the situation, police has been forced to lathicharge and fire teargas.

NIBBUSS organized a mass rally at Silapathar for various issues related to the Bengali community people in the state.

A top official of Dhemaji police said that, following the rally, the people who took part walked out in the town and shouted to protect Hindu Bengali people and demanded to provide citizenship for the Hindu Bangladeshis.

“While the people walked out in the town, a mob pelted stone targeting the security personnel and attacked several vehicles as well as shops. To control the situation, police used lathicharge and then fire teargas,” the police official said.

The mob also vandalized a office of AASU in the town.

Meanwhile, AASU has condemned the incident and demanded the arrest of culprits immediately while appealing to maintain peace.

“We will not allow to provide citizenship to the Hindu Bangladeshis. Assam had already taken more burden of Bangladeshis up to 1971. So there have no question for taking more burden,” AASU president Dipankar Nath said.

On the other hand, several organizations including All Assam Chutia Students Union, condemned the incident and demanded the state government to protect indigenous people in Assam.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)