11 protestors dead in Assam as live wire falls on them during police firing
Officials said they fired in the air to disperse the crowd that had gathered outside a police station demanding five murder suspects be handed over to them.
At least 11 people were electrocuted in Assam's Tinsukia district on Monday when a high-voltage wire came loose after police fired in the air to disperse a group of protestors. According to PTI, police said people armed with machetes and sticks had gathered outside the Pangeree police station demanding that five people arrested for a double murder in the area be handed over to them "for justice".
As the demonstrators started pelting stones at the police station, the police fired in the air to control the mob. The bullets hit an overhead high-tension electric wire causing it to fall on the crowd. While nine people died on the spot, one person died at Tinsukia Civil Hospital and another died on his way to Assam Medical College Hospital.
On Friday, a local resident, his son and his daughter-in-law were abducted by unidentified men in the area. Police said the son managed to escape, but the other two were killed by the kidnappers. The police have arrested five people in connection with the murders.