An uneasy situation prevails in Byrnihat along the Assam-Meghalaya border when an irate mob set on fire a market on Monday.
Security forces are patrolling on the road apprehending any recurrence of any untoward incident in the area.
“We are on alert tonight as the incident might recur at any time or some elements might try to exploit the situation,” said a police official who is manning the area.
Properties worth fifty lakh were reduced to ashes after a huge market in Fiftenth Mile was set on fire by an angry crowd following the clash of a youth with two local traders.
When the local youths sustained injury at the hands of two traders hundreds of angry people thronged the market and started damaging the sheds and commodities kept for sale.
A section of the irate people set on fire the market. Assam policemen who were deployed in the spot had to remain a mute spectator as the situation went out of control.
Meghalaya police arrived on the spot and dispersed the mob with lathicharge. The district administration promulgated Sec 144 crPC to firmly deal with the situation.
“We have yet to assess the extent of damage of property in the incident. But the amount would be more than fifty lakh,” said a police official.
He told Assam Times that Poultry aloe worth 3 lakh have been reduced to ashes not to speak of other commodities kept for sale.
Later senior police and civil officials held a meeting and brought the situation under control.
Add new comment