The owner of a mid-sized tea estate in Assam’s Kamrup district fired at a group of villagers who allegedly attacked him, killing a 15-year-old boy and seriously injuring two men on Monday.
The police said the estate owner, Mridul Kumar Bhattacharyya, assaulted a woman, Jogamaya Boro, around 11 am when she was on her way to a construction site beyond the tea estate, for trespassing on his property. The estate is about 30 km south of Guwahati.
After the woman went back to her village, villagers and some tea estate workers retaliated by trying to attack Bhattacharyya. He allegedly took out his licensed rifle and fired at them.
A bullet killed Class 8 student, Pradip Murali (15), on the spot, the police said. Two men, Suren Ram Boro and Khasi Ram Boro, were grievously injured.
The crowd then set fire to Bhattacharyya’s house, two adjoining tea factories, an office and several vehicles. Fire tenders took a long time to douse the fire, with women and children blocking the road in protest.
“The planter (Bhattacharyya) had gone into hiding, but we managed to arrest him a few hours later,” said Kamrup district Superintendent of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta. “The situation ... is under control, and we will take necessary action against the planter.” Bhattacharyya’s rifle was confiscated.
{{/usCountry}}“The planter (Bhattacharyya) had gone into hiding, but we managed to arrest him a few hours later,” said Kamrup district Superintendent of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta. “The situation ... is under control, and we will take necessary action against the planter.” Bhattacharyya’s rifle was confiscated.
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