SPOs stage armed revolt in Assam, 5 injured

At least five persons were injured, including two personnel, in police firing during an armed revolt by Special Police Officers (SPOs) across Assam, demanding regularisation of their jobs. Around 840 SPOs were trying to march towards Guwahati on Saturday from Dima Hasao, Lumding, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon and Hojai among other places, a top police officer said. “The epicentre of the revolt was in Dima Hasao, where about 340 SPOs boarded three dumpers and one truck to come to Lumding en-route to Guwahati. We intercepted them at the start last night,” Inspector General (Law and Order) of Police S N Singh told PTI over phone. When the police requested the SPOs not to proceed and lay down their arms, the agitators fired at random, he added. He said it was a planned revolt against the government and all the 840 SPOs across the state have been disarmed and pushed back to their camps in the early hours on Sunday.