SPOs stage armed revolt, 5 injured

At least five persons were injured, including two personnel, in police firing during an armed revolt by Special Police Officers (SPOs) across Assam, demanding regularisation of their jobs.

Around 840 SPOs were trying to march towards Guwahati on Saturday from Dima Hasao, Lumding, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon and Hojai among other places, a top police officer said.

“The epicentre of the revolt was in Dima Hasao, where about 340 SPOs boarded three dumpers and one truck to come to Lumding en-route to Guwahati. We intercepted them at the start last night,” Inspector General (Law and Order) of Police S N Singh told PTI over phone.

When the police requested the SPOs not to proceed and lay down their arms, the agitators fired at random, he added.

"We had no option but to have targetted firing, in which two persons sustained bullet injuries. Three more persons were injured during the scuffle and commotion," Singh said.

He said it was a planned revolt against the government and all the 840 SPOs across the state have been disarmed and pushed back to their camps in the early hours on Sunday.

"This is not the first time they are doing this. When last time they protested in similar manner, we promised them to give preference in recruitment in the police force provided they apply, but they want the job without applying for it. We had also told them that they would be inducted as Home Guards in different districts," Singh said.