SHILLONG, SEPT 24: Two persons died while five other five sustained bullet injuries after BSF allegedly opened fire at an angry mob in East Jaintia hills district when they were obstructing and pelting stones at vehicles plying on the National Highway – 44.
Curfew has been imposed immediately to bring the situation under control after violence broke out in the district during the second day of the ongoing economic strike sponsored by the Movement of Indigenous People Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) against NGT ban on coal mining in the state.
Confirming the incident, Khliehriat police station in-charge R Lynkhoi said, “Two persons including a woman died on the spot while five others sustained bullet injuries after military personnel open fired at the angry mob who were illegally obstructing plying of vehicles on the NH-44.”
The deceased have been identified as Setmon Phawa (35) and the Dinesh Siangshai (30), both hailing from Wapungskur village, Lynkhoi said.During the incident, five other persons from the mob also sustained bullet injuries and were immediately shifted to Jowai civil hospital, the officer said.
The injured persons have been identified as Rasiba Siangshai (47), Fidalip Dkhar (30), Ruson Rynkhlem (13), Iaraplang Rymbai (27) and Pyndap Phawa (24).
According to police, the incident happened couple of minutes after the mob started pelting stones at the police who were on patrolling duty. The police fled away to the police station.
“The crowd was such in a violent mood and we had to asked our men to retreat from the place,” Lyngkhoi said adding the police had to move away in order to avoid provoking the mob which was out of control.
Lyngkhoi said the police are yet to know who had open fire at the crowd but said they have been told that uniform men coming in a military bus had open fire when the crowd had pelted stones on their vehicle.” He said as per information it was a vehicle belonging to BSF.
“We are still conducting enquiry into the matter to verify and identify of the shooters,” the officer in charge said.
Meanwhile, the district administration immediately order imposition of curfew in the entire district following the incident.
“Curfew has been imposed from 6 pm to 6 am tomorrow,” officials sources from the home department said.
Meanwhile, the crowd continued to gather on the National Highway since yesterday when the economic strike started wherein a mob had attacked the SP of the district and damage a number of government official’s vehicles.
“We have registered a case and investigation is on to identify and nab the perpetrators involved behind the attacked,” the police officer said.
Additional forces to assist the district police has been dispatched by the government to bring law and order under control.- By Our Reporter
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