11 killed as high-voltage wire fall on mob in Assam

At least 11 people were killed and over a dozen injured when a high-voltage electric wire fell on a mob at Pengeree in Assam's Tinsukia district on Monday, police said.

The high-voltage wire fell after being hit by bullets as police fired in the air to disperse a group of protesters, who had not only laid siege to the Pengeree police station but also attacked the police station with stones and brickbats.

"A group of people from neighbouring villages laid siege to the police station on Monday morning. The mob was demanding the police to hand over to them five murder accused, who were arrested over a recent murder case," a police official said.

The mob wanted to punish the accused for the murder, he added.

"The mob soon became unruly and started pelting stones at the police station. We started a lathi-charge but it failed to disperse the crowd," the official said.

"Police then fired in the air to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately, the bullets hit the high-voltage electric wire overhead and it fell down on the agitators, killing nine of them on the spot and injuring over a dozen others."

Two of the injured died lated in a hospital, taking the toll to 11.

Although the situation was under control, there was simmering tension in the entire area, police said.

Meanwhile, Assam BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal expressed concern over the incident and demanded a high-level probe.

Sonowal, the union minister of youth affairs and sports, also announced Rs.1 lakh compensation to the families of each of the deceased and Rs.25,000 to those injured.