Eight killed in Indian election violence

on 12/02/2013 09:02:38

Police in India today said they had shot and killed at least eight people in the north-eastern state of Assam during protests against the conduct of a local election.

State police chief Jayanta Narayan Choudhury said police fired when crowds in Goalpara district, 75 miles from the state capital Gauhati, attacked officers and polling officials.

Members of the Rabha tribe were protesting against the elections because they have their own autonomous council in the area. The election was for village councils that would overlap their area of authority.

Violence has hit the area in recent days, with houses burned and roads blocked by cut down trees.
State home secretary GD Tripathy said polling was suspended in 100 polling stations.