The police has arrested the tea estate owner who allegedly killed a 15-year-old boy and injured four others on Monday when he allegedly fired at angry protesters, who set ablaze two garden factories and the owner's residence near Guwahati, the police said.
The victim was identified as Class VIII student Pradip Murari, while two of the injured were Suren Ram Bodo and Khasi Ram Bodo, they said.
The situation turned volatile after Mridul Kumar Bhattacharjee, the owner of Rani Tea Estate, prevented Jogmaya Boro from trespassing through his garden.
Alleging that the woman was beaten up and her clothes torn by Bhattacharjee, angry estate labourers and locals protested against the incident.
After a spat, the tea garden owner, allegedly fired at them, killing the boy on the spot and wounding four others, the police said.
The irate mob then torched the residence of the garden owner, two of the factories, several vehicles and other property, officials said, adding that fire tenders were also prevented from entering the garden.
Locals also claimed that Bhattacharjee had been creating a fear psychosis for the last 15 years by physically abusing them, brandishing pistols, grabbing land and even polluting drinking water sources.
The police resorted to lathicharge and using of teargas shells to control the mob. The injured were admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.