Thaindian News

Guwahati, June 22 (IANS) Three people, including a child, were killed and about 50 injured Wednesday as police fired at and teargassed a mob opposing an eviction drive in Assam’s main city Guwahati.

The rampaging crowd set fire to more than a dozen vehicles in the violence.

Police confirmed the death of three people, including a nine-year-old child, in the protest.

Shoot-on-sight orders were issued after the mob went on a rampage attacking pedestrians and vehicles.

At least five government buses and several cars were set ablaze even as protestors pelted security forces with stones and other missiles.

Police retaliated with tear gas and used batons to disperse the mobs. They also opened fire in the air.

Assam Inspector General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta warned that rioters destroying public property would be dealt with severely.

More than 5,000 people led by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), a peasants group, staged a protest in Guwahati asking authorities to stop an eviction drive in the city’s hill areas.

“The mob started pelting stones and attacking vehicles, prompting police to act,” a police official said.

Traffic in the city went out of gear as the protestors squatted on the road.

The government finally managed to calm down tempers by announcing that the eviction drive had been halted till June 28.