Student killed in clash in Assam

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A student was killed and seven others were injured after a clash broke out between an angry mob and policemen in Assam's Silchar city, officials said on Thursday.

Although police claimed to have control the situation, simmering tension prevailed in and around the city over the incident that took place late Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred after two groups of people were fighting over a disputed plot of land.

"Based on information that there were clashes between two groups of people over a piece of land, a police team went there to settle the matter. However, the irate people rounded up the policemen and assaulted them," Cachar Superintendent of Police Rajveer Singh told IANS on Thursday.

"Although the police could contain the situation initially, the people later came out in huge numbers and blocked the busy National Highway No. 6 that connects Silchar and Shillong and pelted the police team with stones and other vehicles plying on the highway," he said.

"As the situation turned violent, the police resorted to firing in the air. However, one of the bullets hit a 17-year-old student unfortunately, who was also a part of the mob," Singh added.

The injured comprised two civilians and five policemen.

"The situation is under control now and we have deployed additional forces to ensure that there is no escalation of the situation," Singh added.

--IANS

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