Guwahati: Pitched street battle leaves 150 injured

TROUBLED ASSAM: A jittery Assam government called in the Army and imposed curfew in the violence affected areas.

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Keywords: Scheduled Tribe Status, All Assam Adivasi Students\' Association

New Delhi: Pitched street battles in the heart of Guwahati left over a 150 people wounded, and one dead. The violence started near Beltola, when students from the Assam Adivasi Students Association and tea workers protesting for Scheduled Tribe status tried to march to the state Assembly.

Authorities say the protestors turned violent when they were obstructed by policemen, setting shops and vehicles on fire, and clashing with local residents.

"Rioters came and smashed passing cars and nearby shops, so the locals got upset and clashes happened," said an eyewitness, Mukul Deka.

DGP Assam Police, R N Mathur said, "The police reached the spot as soon as the violence started and we lathicharged and used tear gas on the mob."

The police resorted to lathi charge and tear gas shelling as the angry mob went on rampage setting ablaze vehicles and damaging property.

A jittery Assam government called in the Army and imposed curfew in the violence affected areas. The government has also increased security in Adivasi dominated areas in the state.