Dibrugarh, Jan 2: Tension flared in Dibrugarh’s Maijan Natun Gaon area early Friday after police fired shots in the air to disperse an angry crowd that had detained occupants of a vehicle suspected of involvement in cattle theft.
The incident followed a night-long vigil organised by villagers after a spate of cattle thefts reported in the area over the past week. Local youths said they had been staying awake at night during the New Year period to prevent further thefts.
At around 4 am, villagers noticed a suspicious vehicle moving through the locality and attempted to stop it. The occupants allegedly tried to flee, prompting residents to block the road. Although the vehicle eventually stopped, those inside reportedly refused to come out, after which villagers alerted the police.
According to residents, the situation escalated after police arrived and allowed the vehicle to leave the spot, triggering protests by villagers who accused the police of shielding cattle thieves. As tensions rose and some residents moved towards the police personnel, officers fired blank rounds in the air to control the crowd.
Additional police forces were rushed to the area to restore order.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gurav, who later visited the site, confirmed the sequence of events. “The incident occurred around 4 am when locals stopped a vehicle suspecting cattle thieves inside. The police had to resort to blank firing to disperse the crowd when they moved to rescue the three individuals,” he told reporters.
The SSP said the three occupants were taken to Dibrugarh Police Station for questioning. “So far, there is no evidence to suggest they are cattle thieves. Further interrogation is underway. Legal action will also be initiated against those who attempted to take the law into their own hands,” he added.
He said the Additional Superintendent of Police has been directed to closely monitor and investigate the entire incident.
A local resident alleged that cattle thieves often arrive in different vehicles and steal animals directly from cowsheds, claiming repeated police inaction forced villagers to organise night patrols. He further alleged that instead of addressing their concerns, police responded by opening fire in the air.
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