Protest in Mumbai turns violent; 2 killed
Vehicles set on fire by demonstrators burn outside the Azad Maidan ground area in Mumbai, India yesterday. Two people were killed and 14 others injured when a protest against the riots in Assam and attacks on a minority community in Myanmar turned violent.Photo: AFP
Two persons were killed and 14 injured yesterday when a protest in Mumbai against ethnic riots in northeastern state of Assam turned violent with demonstrators torching vehicles, leading the police to fire in the air and use batons to the disperse the mob.
Hundreds of people turned up at Azad Maidan Ground, a popular protest venue, in south Mumbai this afternoon on a call given by a city-based outfit, Raza Academy, to denounce the riots in Assam and also alleged attacks on a minority community in Myanmar.
They suddenly turned unruly and torched vehicles, damaged buses and pelted stones. Police opened fire in the air and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob and restore order, said a policeman deployed at the Azad Maidan.
At least 16 persons were injured and two of them later succumbed in a hospital.
Police said they were trying to ascertain the victims' identity. Security has been stepped up at religious places across Mumbai.
The situation has been brought under control, police said, adding the cause of the violence was being probed.
Three media vans and a police vehicle were set on fire. A bus, two four-wheelers and five two-wheelers were damaged in the stone pelting, police said.
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