Protesters block the railway tracks at Diphu station on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Nagaon, July 2: Altogether seven persons — three police personnel and four civilians — were seriously injured after a peaceful procession turned violent in Assam’s troubled Karbi Anglong district today.

The procession was taken out to protest against the attack on a 19-year-old college student who was badly beaten up by some persons in the heart of the town on June 25. The student — Jhankar Saikia — succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Guwahati yesterday.

The procession of over 6,000 people, started from Diphu club. The procession was scheduled to culminate in a rally at the starting point after passing through Diphu town and submitting a memorandum to Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner in support of its demand.

According to reports, the crowd turned violent on reaching Diphu railway station. A group entered the station and attempted to damage the main building.

Four youths were also beaten up by the mob outside the station. All of them were later admitted to Diphu civil hospital.

They later moved to the town outpost of the police and hurled stones at the personnel on duty.

“A lathicharge was ordered as soon as the situation took a turn for the worse. There were some people who intended to keep the protest peaceful and promptly left when it became violent. Those who intended to create a law and order situation refused to listen to their leaders and started the violence,” said Karbi Anglong additional superintendent of police (headquarters) Bolin Deuri.

After the lathicharge, the protesters dispersed and the leaders were instructed to cancel any further programme, Deuri added.

Six persons were arrested.

Jhankar Saikia was injured after some people beat him up following an altercation with an autorickshaw driver over fare on June 25.

The situation turned worse after he succumbed to his injuries early on Monday and the Karbi Anglong administration was forced to take special measures to prevent escalation in violence.

The youth’s body was taken to his Diphu residence yesterday and was later cremated.

“A magisterial-level inquiry into the youth’s death has been ordered and steps against the culprit will be taken according to the law of the land,” said a high-level source in the Karbi Anglong administration.