Protest turns violent in Assam's BATD, 20 civilians, 5 police personnel injured

According to reports, over 1000 protesters of All BTC Minority Students Union (ABMSU) staged protest and blocked railway tracks in several parts of BTAD demanding the arrest of main culprits who killed ABMSU leader Lafikul Islam on August 1 last.

When the protesters shouted against the state government and Assam police for failing to arrest the murderers of Lafikul Islam, security personnel used baton charge and made blank fires on the protesters to restraint the situation.

The protesters also pelted stone targeting the security personnel.

At least 20 protesters and five police personnel including a RPF inspector were injured during the clash.

A top police official of Kokrajhar district said, when the security personnel asked the protesters at Salakati station to leave the area, some protesters pelted stone targeting the security personnel.

"To control the situation, security personnel have been forced to resort lathi charge. In the stone attack at least 5 police personnel including a RPF inspector were injured and they were immediately admitted at nearest hospital," the police official said.

On the other, at least 20 protesters including several women were injured in police lathicharge and they were also admitted in hospital.

An ABMSU leader said that, few women protesters including sister of Lafikul Islam were severely injured in the police act.

Lafikul Islam was killed by unidentified gunmen at Titaguri market area in Kokrajhar district on August 1 last and ABMSU demanded to the state government to arrest the main culprits.

On the other hand, following the Assam government's request, the Centre on Wednesday handed over the case of the killing of the ABMSU leader to CBI.

Earlier Assam government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Assam police IGP Anurag Tankha to probe the killing incident.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)