DONGKAMOKAM, Aug 21 ? Three persons were killed in police firing at Ulukunchi police outpost under Baithalangsu police station in Karbi Anglong district last afternoon, after an irate mob gheraoed the outpost following the custodial death of one Raseswar Hokai. Hokai had been picked by police for his suspected ULFA links. Two of the dead have been identified as Sing Puma (40) and N Lumpai (45), while the third one is yet to be identified. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.
The tragedy occurred when the police first fired in the air to disperse the group of incensed people at the outpost. Police said that after this, a few people from the crowd also fired at the police and then the police too retaliated by firing at them. According to police, those who fired from the crowd were Tiwa militants. Dolendra Chandra Deka, the Baithalangsu officer-in-charge, was also hurt in the firing.
Meanwhile, tension continues to grip the area. Senior police officials have already rushed to Ulukunchi to take stock of the situation.
PTI adds: Following the custodial death, an irate mob of the Tiwa community residing in the nearby areas gheraoed the police yesterday and started attacking them, injuring two policemen. Police opened fire in which two persons died on the spot. Following a search operation today, the body of another Tiwa community member was found in the nearby paddy fields who had sustained injuries in the police firing and subsequently escaped. The police suspected that some members of a particular militant outfit of the Tiwas were also involved in the attack as there was firing from 12 bore rifles which seriously injured the police station?s officer in charge and his assistant sub-inspector who received bullets injuries in their hands. Police did not rule out the possibility of more casualties due to firing as most of the people dispersed after the incident. DIG AK Nath and SP Pankaj Sharma are camping in the area where the situation is tense but under control, the sources said. Police had started a probe into the incident.