ITANAGAR, May 2 - Two persons died and seven others sustained bullet injuries, one of them critically, in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh when police opened fire this morning on the protesters seeking immediate release of a Lama arrested on charges of vilification.
The incident occurred when a mob �attacked� the Tawang Police Station demanding immediate release of Save Mon Region Federation secretary Lama Lobsang Gyatso, who was arrested on April 28 last.
Two persons died on the spot and seven others received bullet injuries. The condition of one of the injured persons is stated to be critical, according to DGP (in-charge) Nabin Payeng.
On April 30, Tawang witnessed a massive protest against a voice clip allegedly circulated in the social media by Lama Lobsang Gyatso against the Abbot of Tawang Monastery, Guru Tulku Rimpoche, questioning his nationality.
Gyatso was in police custody since his arrest, the DGP in-charge said, adding that he was to be produced before the local court for his bail application today. But it did not materialise as the court postponed the hearing to May 4 next, fearing law and order problem as a mob had already assembled.
Later, police returned to the police station with Gyatso, while the mob followed them insisting release of their leader. The mob then resorted to stone pelting, breaking the doors, windows and furniture of the police station. To disperse the mob, police had to open fire, and in the process nine persons received bullet injuries, with two dead on the spot, confirmed the in-charge DGP.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has expressed grief over the Tawang incident.
