20 cops hurt as Rajput protest turns violent in Rajasthan
Violent protests erupted at Nagaur district of Rajasthan on Wednesday where a rally was organised by various Rajput outfits to pay tributes to slain gangster Anandpal Singh and for demanding a CBI probe into his death.
Singh was killed in a police encounter in Churu district on June 24.
According to senior police officials, around 20 policemen have been injured in attacks by the protesters in the evening, who also set fire to the vehicle in which Nagaur superintendent of police (SP) Paris Deshmukh was travelling.
“Around 20 policemen, including the SP and the additional SP have sustained injuries. The SP’s vehicle was set afire by protesters. The police had to resort to firing of tear gas shells to quell the mob,” additional director general of police (law and order) NRK Reddy told Hindustan Times.
He added that the condition of two of the police officials is serious and they had to be shifted to a local hospital in Deedwana.
The police said the protesters pelted stones at the official vehicles and efforts are being made to control the situation.
“We are yet to know if the protesters are armed with weapons. We have cleared the railway tracks which they were earlier blocking,” said Reddy.
A crowd of more than 50,000 people gathered at Sanvrad, the native village of the slain gangster, on Wednesday.
The administration had cut off the internet connection in order to prevent people from inciting violence using the social media.
“We are trying to control the situation and constantly communicating with the people on the ground,” said a senior police official.