The villagers were demanding a CBI probe into the death of gangster Anandpal Singh
Highlights
- At least 16 policemen were injured as protesters turned violent
- They want a CBI probe into the encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh
- Anandpal Singh's family claims he wanted to surrender but was killed
A civilian was killed and over 20 policemen were injured in Rajasthan's Naguar after protests demanding CBI investigation into an encounter of a local gangster turned violent after a meeting of Rajput community leaders late on Wednesday, police said. The villagers, who alleged that the encounter of Anandpal Singh last month was staged, attacked a police team with stones and set on a police vehicle on fire.
A mob threw stones on policemen and torched a police vehicle and four buses on fire in Sanwarda village in Nagaur district late on Wednesday, injuring over 20 policemen, including a senior police officer, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) NRK Reddy said. Three critically injured policemen were rushed to a hospital in Jaipur.
The protesters also damaged a section of the railway tracks in the area, following which rail traffic was diverted between Ladnu-Kuchaman section. The track has been cleared now, police said. "They also blocked a railway track but it was cleared and the agitators were removed from there," Mr Reddy said.
The police used batons on angry crowds who alleged that cops fired at them, the claim denied by the police. They said only rubber bullets were fired to control the mob.
A curfew has been imposed in the Sanwarad village and internet services have been suspended in Nagaur, Chur, Sikar and Bikaner districts.
Anandpal's family claimed that he was killed despite his willingness to surrender before police and that it was a part of the political conspiracy to eliminate him. The gangster's family is yet to cremate the body.