Jamshedpur, May 20: Jamshedpur police on Saturday opened fire in the air to disperse a mob which blocked roads here at Mango, demanding arrest of those involved in the lynching of four members of the minority community in Seraikela-Kharswan district. Police had to open seven rounds of fire to control the situation.
The protesters gathered in the Mango area demanding arrest of the culprits involved in the lynching of four people in Rajnagar (Seraikela-Kharsawan) on Thursday last. The local residents mobilized support and started pelting stone on the district police and administration officials who had to run for a cover.
After sometime, more protestors turned up at the scene and resumed stone pelting. The protest that started in Azad Basti spread to Munshi Mohalla leading police to resort to lathi charge. The police sealed entire Mango area leading to closure of shops and other commercial places.
People heading towards Mango were stopped midway.
Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum Amit Kumar said the police fired in the air and hurled tear gas shells to disperse the mob. However, the situation is under control now and adequate forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. He appealed to the people to not pay heed to any rumour.
Four persons Sheikh Naim (35), Sheikh Sajju (25), Sheikh Siraj (26) and Sheikh Halim (28) were lynched by villagers at Rajnagar in Seraikella-Kharsawan on May 18 last. Three others were also lynched on the suspicion of being child lifters on the same day at Nagadih under Bagbera PS in East Singhbhum.
As the situation worsened by the afternoon, the administration put a barricade on the Mango bridge, and stopped four-wheelers to cross the bridge towards Mango. Demanding arrest of the culprits, the members of minority community also put up a road blockade in Dhatkidih under Bistupur police station area, disrupting traffic movement.
SSP, Anoop T Mathew said the situation was under control. “We have tightened security everywhere in the city. The situation is well under control,” he said, adding that armed cops from district police and RAF have been pressed into service to control the situation.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das had yesterday announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family members of the lynching victims.
Administration of both Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts have launched awareness drives in their respective areas educating people not to pay heed to rumours on child-lifting incidents.