Jalandhar, April 22
An unruly mob set on fire a Punjab police vehicle and damaged 12 vehicles, including that of some local people, outside the division number 8 police station near Lamba Pind chowk here today. The agitators were protesting against the alleged failure of the police to register a case against some police officials, who had allegedly beaten up a truck driver Jasbir Singh on April 19. Jasbir Singh died in the Civil Hospital yesterday.

The police reportedly fired 21 rounds in the air to disperse the agitating mob. Mr Ravinder Sharma, SHO, was injured in the attack. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable.

Earlier, a group of around 30 persons blocked traffic on the Jalandhar-Amritsar road near the police station for about one hour. Despite police officials’ efforts to pacify it, the mob turned violent and started pelting vehicles with stones. Seven private vehicles were damaged. The mob, then, moved towards the police station and set on fire a Punjab police Gypsy and damaged three more vehicles.

Officials from a nearby police station were rushed to the place to control the mob. Senior police officials, including Mr R.P.S. Sandhu, SP, reached the spot, but mob could only be dispersed after firing about 21 shots in the air. The protesters were demanding that the erring police officials should be booked for allegedly torturing Jasbir Singh in the police custody. They alleged the police was trying to hush up the case.