At least two people lost their lives and several others were injured after a road accident in Kokrajhar, Assam, spiralled into violent mob unrest, forcing authorities to deploy the Army along with state police and central forces to bring the situation under control.
The chain of events began when a Scorpio vehicle, travelling through a tribal-dominated locality, allegedly struck two local residents. Officials said that three people, including the driver, were inside the vehicle at the time. News of the accident quickly angered nearby residents, who began protesting by pelting stones at the car. Amid the chaos and heavy stone-throwing, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which then swerved off the road and plunged into a roadside ditch.
Following the crash, the situation deteriorated rapidly. According to police, the occupants of the vehicle were forcibly pulled out by the enraged crowd. The driver, identified as Sikhna Jwhwlao Bismit, was brutally lynched at the scene. The other two passengers narrowly escaped death after security personnel intervened and rescued them. They were immediately shifted to a hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment for their injuries.
The two local residents who were initially hit by the vehicle were also admitted to hospital with serious injuries. One of them, Sunil Murmu, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. His death further inflamed tensions in the area and sparked fresh protests among locals.
In the aftermath, angry demonstrators reportedly surrounded the local police station and blocked National Highway 3, severely disrupting traffic movement. As the protest intensified and turned violent, police were compelled to use force to regain control. Officers carried out a lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and prevent further escalation.
To stabilise the situation and avert additional violence, the district administration rushed in reinforcements, including extra police personnel, units of the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Army, deploying them in sensitive and vulnerable locations across Kokrajhar. Security presence was significantly increased to deter further unrest.
Police officials confirmed that at least 29 people have been detained since Tuesday night in connection with the violence. Investigations are ongoing to identify others involved in the lynching and subsequent disturbances. Authorities stated that while the situation is currently under control, heightened security measures remain in place as a precaution to maintain law and order in the district.
