GUWAHATI: Police opened fire on Thursday to quell a mob angered by the local government’s demolition of a rebel group’s office in India’s troubled northeast, killing four people, an official said.

More than 200 protesters set fire to several government offices and private homes in Bengtol, a town 170 kilometres west of Guwahati, the capital of Assam state, forcing police to open fire, said P. Deka, the local government administrator.

Violence erupted after government workers began pulling down the office belonging to the National Democratic Front of Boroland separatist group, Deka said.

“Our officials agreed to put the operation on hold, but the protesters resorted to large-scale arson,” Deka said.

Police were ordered to fire in the air but some people were hit, he said. More than a dozen people wounded by gunfire and a subsequent stampede were hospitalized.—AP