One person was killed and at least 20 persons, including police officials, were reported injured in a clash between the police and locals in Mayur Vihar Phase 3 area of east Delhi on Sunday evening.
According to the police, the incident started at around 6 pm when policemen tried to stop a motorcyclist at a checkpost but the biker dodged the barricade and a policeman hit him with his stick. The biker fell and was injured. “The policemen immediately called fellow staff and he was rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where he is recuperating,” said an eyewitness who captured the incident on his mobile phone.
While the policemen were busy ensuring the biker was medically treated, a rumour spread that the police allegedly hit the man and that he died on the spot. A mob of around 100 people blocked the road and put buses, police vans, bikes and shops on fire. Hearing this, many people joined the crowd and pelted stones at the police.
At least 10 policemen were trapped by the crowd and beaten and hit by stones. The police called for backup and, in response, police teams from nearby areas rushed to the spot to control the mob. The angry crowd, meanwhile, looted a liquor shop, vandalised vehicles and later torched a police booth.
After a four-hour-long ruckus, the police lathicharged the mob, which was not allowing any fire-tender to enter the area. The police also used teargas.