From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: At least three persons were killed and five others injured when security personnel opened fire to disperse a mob of people that was trying to storm into a vote counting station at Hatsingrimari in Dhubri district of western Assam at around 10-30 A.M. on Friday
A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official here informed that BSF and Assam Police Battalion personnel posted at the panchayat election vote counting station at Hatsingrimari were compelled opened fire when a mob tried to storm into the government establishment with intention to disrupt vote counting process.
The official said three persons were injured in the firing while five others were injured.
The mob also torched three vehicles including a bus meant for conveyance of polling officials. The vehicle of the Sub-Divisional Officer was also burnt down by the group.
Curfew was imposed in the area and vote counting was stopped for the time being.
The vote counting station was located adjacent to the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO.)
On the other hand Assam government today issued strict instructions to all the district administrations and department heads to ensure attendance and smooth functioning of all government offices and institutions in view of the 120-hour Assam bandh called by All Assam Tribal Sangha on February 16 in protest against killing of tribal protestors on February 12 in police firing during holding of panchayat election in Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area in western Assam
The State Government has also directed the DCs, SDOs, all head of departments to resort to pay cut and other actions under “No Work No Pay” principle if any employee failed to attend to office on Saturday.
To discuss the current situation in Assam with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the former on Friday after landing at the airport from New Delhi.
The two leaders had a brief meeting at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi international airport in Borjhar here during Singh’s flight change to Meghalaya.
The meeting lasted for a few minutes and the current situation in the state was discussed, particularly the violence during Panchayat polls, reportedly figured in the discussions. (with inputs from UNI)