Mumbai: 2 killed in Assam protest

Mumbai: At least two people were killed and 50 injured on Saturday in violence that erupted at a protest meeting in Mumbai organised to decry the Assam violence, triggering arson and attack on the mediapersons and cops.

The protest meeting was at Azad Maidan in Mumbai but it turned violent in the afternoon and police had to fire in the air and resort to lathicharge to control the mob.

A Mumbai police official told IBNS that two died in the violence but their identities were yet to be known.

He said several injured, including many cops, were in different hospitals.

Police are still verifying what exactly killed the two protesters and what was the reason that the crowds got agitated.

Large number of protesters assembled at the venue on Saturday following a call by an organization called Raza Academy to denounce the ongoing Assam violence.

However, the protest meeting turned violent at around 3:30 pm leading to attacks on vehicles.

Several vehicles, including media vans, were damaged.

According to reports, 10 BEST buses and even police vehicles were damaged during the incident.

A police vehicle was reportedly torched by the protesters.

Reports said some OB vans of media houses were also set on fire.

Media and cops were the target of the people at the maidan who turned violent.

The State Reserve Police and riot control police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

A red alert has been issued across Maharashtra.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now issued an advisory to all states to be vigilant about Assam related protests.

At least 77 people have been killed in the ongoing clashes between the Bodos and Muslim settlers in Assam in the last one month.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also visited the the affected areas of the state recently.