Ranchi: Jharkhand state police headquarters issued a statement here on Saturday describing the incident of death of a person and injury of four persons in Khunti as the result of mob violence.
Police authorities said that one Abrahim Munda was killed and three others, Nisha Purty, Shani Purty and Sugra Munda were injured in firing resorted to by the police in self defence.
“A mob comprising around 1000 to 1500 villagers armed with traditional weapons and including several Maoists and PLFI supporters intercepted ASP (Operation), Khunti, and tied the cops with ropes in order to commit sendra (ritual killing) on them and assaulted them. A reinforcement sent to rescue the team led by the police officer in-charge of Arki PS was also taken hostage by the mob,” said the police statement.
No sooner did the DSP of Khunti and Quick Response Team arrive at the venue, the mob attacked them with stones. A bodyguard of the DSP was seriously wounded in an attack with an axe by the mob. A total of seven police officials were seriously injured in the incident.
When the irate mob tried to lynch the cops, police resorted to firing in self defence. The injured were taken to RIMS, Ranchi. DIG Ranchi is camping at the spot. The situation is under control as additional forces have been sent to the venue, police said.