Assam protests by Islamic organisations in Mumbai turn violent; police lathicharge crowds to control situation

Written by Janaki Fernandes |
August 11, 2012 17:42 IST

Mumbai: Protests in Mumbai's Azad Maidan over the ethnic violence in Assam turned violent after a section of the crowd burnt vehicles, including media vans. The police had to then fire in the air and lathicharge the crowds to control them.

Roads leading to Azad Maidan were blocked and the police managed to control the mob after 30 minutes.

Police are still verifying what agitated the crowds. The State Reserve Police and riot control police were pressed into action to bring the situation under control.

People gathered in Azad Maidan over the violence in Assam between people from the Bodo tribes and Muslim communities that broke out on July 20, after unidentified men killed four Bodo youths. In retaliation, armed Bodos - who dominate Kokrajhar and Chirang districts - attacked Muslims, suspecting them of being behind the deaths.

Communal clashes have since ensued and fleeing survivors speak of large groups of men armed with automatic weapons surrounding entire villages, going on the rampage, gunning down people or hacking them to death with machetes. Hundreds of villages have been looted and razed. Due to the violence, nearly four lakh people have been displaced and over 70 are dead.
Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/assam-protests-in-mumbai-turn-violent-police-lathicharge-crowds-to-control-situation-253805