15-yr-old dies in cop-local scuffle in Assam

Silchar: A 15-year-old youth was killed during a scuffle between police and public at Digorkhal in Cachar district on Wednesday night. Though locals alleged that Anupam Das (15), the victim, died in police firing, police denied the charge.
According to a senior police officer, Anupam died when stones pelted by a mob hit him in the head.
Sources said the scuffle began at 10.30 pm on Wednesday when Tarun Das, an ASI of Gumra police investigation centre, assaulted Prajesh Das, a labourer, in Digorkhal market.Soon, locals gathered in large numbers and asked Das to apologize.
However, the police officer, along with a constable, managed to leave the place. After sometime, a group of armed policemen, led by officer-in-charge of Gumra police investigation centre SK Das, reached Digorkhal market and wielded batons to disperse the crowd.
In retaliation, hundreds of locals started pelting stones targeting the cops. The cops fired six rounds in the air to tame the mob. However, six policemen, including the officer-in-charge, were injured when stones pelted by the mob hit them.
Locals damaged at least 20 vehicles on NH-6 that connects Silchar with Shillong. They also blocked the highway for several hours.
In the melee Anupam Das sustained severe injuries in his head. He was rushed to Kalain rural health centre. However, doctors sent him to Silchar Medical College hospital under critical circumstances. Anupam succumbed to his injures at 2 am on Thursday at the SMCH.
Additional SP (Cachar) Jagadish Das said he has asked the in-charge to file a detailed investigation report by Friday. No one has been arrested so far.