New Delhi: Army was called in to stage flag marches in Guwahati on Saturday evening after adivasi students went on the rampage, looting shops and burning vehicles in Assam's capital city.
DGP R N Mathur said, "They started getting violent in public so police was called in".
At least one person was killed and over 150 others were injured when clashes broke out between local residents and adivasi students when about 10,000 tribal people, backed by the All Assam Adivasi Students' Association (AAASA), were taking out a rally demanding Scheduled Tribe status for the community.
The condition of 15 of those injured are stated to be critical.
"More than 3,000 locals were involved in the mob attack," the police official said.
The residents came out with sticks and iron rods, besides crude implements; attacked the fleeing protestors and beat them up mercilessly. Eleven of those injured are stated to be critical.
The violence broke out during a student rally in the Beltola area of the city. The students were holding a demonstration demanding tribal status for Assam's tea garden workers. Authorities in Guwahati say the students vandalised private property and shops and set fire to many vehicles, provoking the locals.
Police fired teargas and used batons to control the clashing mobs. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in the area and the Army has been called in to help the district administration control the situation.
"Local residents of Guwahati and the protestors clashed on the streets after the agitators went on a rampage damaging about 100 vehicles and destroying shops. The angry locals retaliated by attacking the protestors," a top police official said.
Police and paramilitary troopers have since blocked a major stretch of the city to prevent the protestors from being attacked by the mob. The injured, including women, were shifted to hospitals.
(With agency inputs)
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