One killed as protests rock Jaipur, curfew imposed
Curfew was imposed in areas inside Jaipur’s Walled City on Saturday after one person died in police firing and several policemen were injured following violent clashes between locals and the police in Ramganj area late on Friday night. Protesters had allegedly torched an ambulance and damaged a police patrolling vehicle besides carrying out heavy stone-pelting.
JAIPUR: Curfew was imposed in areas inside Jaipur’s Walled City on Saturday after one person died in police firing and several policemen were injured following violent clashes between locals and the police in Ramganj area late on Friday night.
Protesters had allegedly torched an ambulance and damaged a police patrolling vehicle besides carrying out heavy stone-pelting in the area.
As a preventive measure, mobile internet services were suspended in all areas falling under the Jaipur police commissionerate till Sunday midnight and bulk SMS services and other forms of social media.
According to locals, the dispute started when the police were driving away carts and street vendors and accidentally hit a couple, who were passing by the area on a bike, with a baton.
The incident resulted in an altercation between locals and the police following which a large group of people went to the local Ramganj police station.
When they started pelting stones, police resorted to lathicharge and firing, which led to the death of a man identified as Mohammed Rais alias Aadil.
“The entire violence took place within 40 minutes after which the situation was brought under control. We have deployed extra force along with eight companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC),” said additional director general of police, law and order, NRK Reddy.
Curfew was imposed in all areas of the Walled City.
“One person has died of bullet injuries during the violence and several policemen were injured. Some of the injured cops had to be admitted at the SMS Hospital,” said Reddy.
Deputy commissioner of police, north, Satyendra Singh admitted in a press conference that the police had opened fire.
However, it is still not clear who ordered the firing.
Five FIRs were lodged after the violence, said officials.