Police fire in air during Dhubri bandh

Dhubri Sarvajanik Durga Puja Sammanway Samiti, the coordination committee of 76 puja committees in this town, had called the bandh to protest the stabbing of Kamal Ghosh by unidentified persons late last night at the Ghoshpara puja mandap in IG Road area last night.

It had also announced that no immersion of Durga idols would take place till the culprits were arrested.

Around 2 pm, a huge crowd gathered at Harisabha area and prevented the immersion procession of the Durga idol of the puja conducted at the Police Reserve, officials said.

They argued that since the Samiti had announced that no immersion would be conducted until action against the culprits is taken, the puja committee of Police Reserve would also not be allowed to proceed with the immersion.

This led to a scuffle between the Samiti supporters and police. Three round were fired in the air by the police personnel, followed by tear gas canisters to disperse the people, the sources said.

However, there has been no reports of any injury to any person so far, they said.

After the stabbing incident, Ghosh was first admitted to a local hospital and referred to the Guwahati Medical College this morning.

Earlier in the morning, the Samiti had organised a meeting to protest the stabbing and asked senior district officials to meet them at the site. The crowd got agitated when the Deputy Commissioner did not come to meet them. Soon a huge crowd started shouting slogans against the administration and a minor scuffle started with the police.

Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd and six persons were injured in this action.