At least 11 people were killed and over 20 others injured after a high-voltage wire fell on a group of protesters at remote Pengeree village in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia on Monday.
The electric wire fell after the bullets fired by police in the air to disperse the agitating crowd hit it.
“They gheraod the police station and demanded the murder accused be handed over to them. The police first resorted to lathi charge to disperse them. However, as the mob went unruly, they resorted to firing in the air,” said a senior police official, adding the bullets hit the high-voltage wire overhead.
Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed curfew in and around the area.
Assam CM Tarun Gogoi has ordered a judicial probe and urged the people to exercise restraint and maintain peace and tranquility. Gogoi has asked the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia district to maintain law and order.
The incident took place on Monday morning after a group of agitators, armed with machete and sticks, gheraod the Pengeree police station demanding custody of five murder accused arrested by the police over a murder case in the area.
“Several of them got electrocuted and nine of them killed on the spot. Although all of them rushed to the hospital, two other died in the hospital later taking the total toll to 11,” he said, adding that about 20 others are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by falling of electric cable in Assam’s Tinsukia district and asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take suitable steps.
Singh immediately talked to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who apprised him of the situation.
“PM @narendramodi expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by falling of an electric cable in Assam’s Tinsukia district,” PMO tweeted.
“PM prays that those injured recover quickly. PM spoke to Home Minister @BJPRajnathSingh ji on the situation,” the PMO said in another tweet.
It added that the Home Minister immediately got in touch with the Assam government on the issue and asked the government to take suitable steps in this regard.
A tweet by Home Minister’s Office said that Singh spoke to Gogoi who apprised him of the situation at Pangeree in Tinsukia. “The situation is reportedly under control,” it said.
“HM has expressed condolences to the families of those who died in Tinsukia due to falling of high voltage cable & prayed for the injured,” the tweet by HMO said.