Diphu :  Sensation prevailed in Diphu town yesterday after armed constable of Assam Police Pulak Sharma of Diphu Police Station fired two rounds in the ground to prevent a mob of auto rickshaw and their ally near number one police point of the town at around 8.00pm.

According to onlookers and bystanders, constable Pulak Sharma was policing a no entry point when a particular auto rickshaw tried to sneak through the no entry position, when prevented he argued that time of no entry is over, this was followed by argument between the auto rickshaw driver and the duty police.

Soon a mob of auto rickshaw drivers ganged up and cordoned him; at this moment Constable Pulak Sharma fired a round in the ground to disperse the agitated mob. Again he had to fire another round to prevent the advancement of the regrouped auto drivers.

On the other hand, frenzied auto drivers and their supporters alleged that Constable Pulak Sharma was intoxicated and assaulted one particular auto driver and created the whole turmoil. After the incident Pulak Sharma was moved to Diphu Police station.

In police station Sharma told the media that in view of growing threat of extremist activity and ensuing Independence Day celebration, police is maintaining strict vigil on any susceptible person and group which may be a security threat, so he had to be watchful against snatch attempts of his service weapon. He pointed out that the action was in self-defense and to avert mob violence.

It may be mentioned here that few years back, a teenager named Jhankar Saikia was lynched by a group of auto driver and their collaborators in Diphu town; and the lynching started from that very spot. 

The young boy was beaten to death in presence of his advocate father and police. Not a single shot was fired in air by police to disperse the turbulent mob. Yesterday’s incident in a way prevented the unfolding of another tragic episode.