Nine people were injured in police firing and close to 3,000 train passengers were stranded at a railway station in Dima Hasao district of Assam after an irate mob clashes with police and security forces on Friday following rumours that Centre is going to set up satellite council for Nagas living in the district as part of the talks between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has reviewed the law and order situation with the top police brass from New Delhi over telephone and assured the people of the district that state’s geographical integrity would not be allowed to change at any cost. Police said that hundreds of agitators intercepted the Silchar-Guwahati passenger express at Maibong railway station. The agitators — protesting against reported move to set up a satellite council for the Nagas — had called for a 12-hour bandh.
“We have tried to lathicharge to disperse the crowd followed by firing of tear gas shells. However, as the mob turned unruly and attacked the railway station and security forces, we had to resort to firing that led to injury of nine people including two people with serious injuries,” said Director General of Assam Police, Mukesh Sahai.
The close to 3,000 passengers who were traveling in the train got stranded. “All the passengers had been taken to a school nearby under tight security and they were safe,” said Sahai while adding that talks are on with the railway authorities to send them to their destinations soon.
Sahai said that the unruly mob also attacked the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of the district when they tried to negotiate with the agitators. Some policemen as well as an additional Deputy Commisioner was also injured and some vehicles of the administration also got damaged during the mob attack.
Assam government had also sent state Industry and transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary to Maibong to discuss the issue with the agitators and social organizations. State Water resource Minister Keshav Mahanta as well as Excise Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya would also visit Dima hasao on Saturday to discuss with the agitating organizations.
It may be mentioned here that the Dima Hasao has been witnessing protests in the last few days after rumour spread out that part of the Hill district will have satellite council for Nagas under the peace talks between the government of India and the NSCN (IM).
Several social organizations including Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, Dimasa Mothers’ Association, Dimasa Women Society, All Dimasa Students’ Union, Dimasa Students’ Union and Dimasa Youth Association, have in the recent past demonstrated saying that while they were not against Nagalim but they are against inclusion of Dima Hasao in Nagalim and also establishment of satellite council in Dima Hasao.