KHOWAI: A man identified as Motilal Karmakar died while running during a clash and police lathi charge outside a Village Committee vote counting centre at Champa Haor in Khowai district, according to reports.
The incident has drawn strong reactions. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha described the death as a matter of great regret.
The trouble came during the counting of votes in the TTAADC Village Committee elections. Reports said tension built up outside the counting centre, and police used lathis to bring the crowd under control. Karmakar reportedly died as people ran amid the chaos.
The death has once again put the role of the police administration under scrutiny. Questions were first raised after the shooting reported on polling day. The clashes and loss of life on the counting day have revived them.
The circumstances of the death have also begun to be strongly politicised. The exact cause is yet to be officially established, and the police have not yet issued a detailed statement. It was not immediately known whether a post-mortem examination has been conducted.