Sriganganagar, January 9
Following clashes between protesting residents and the police over the murder of a local trader, the district police clamped curfew in parts of the town this afternoon.
Ramlal, a 28-year-old photographer, was killed and two others sustained injuries last evening when a mob attacked them over an altercation.
Meanwhile, the police imposed curfew in the Jawahar Nagar and Sadar Thana areas this afternoon. Top police and administration officers have reached the spot.
Sources say that the police had arrested four persons, including Ranjit, in the case following an FIR registered by Subhash, who received injuries.
According to the protesters, Ranjit, the main accused in the alleged crime, attacked and killed Ramlal when the victim along with others protested to people from taking money forcibly from the traders in the Meera Chowk area in the heart of the city.
The police says that last evening Ranjit went to a saloon and following an altercation threatened a shopkeeper over a petty issue. Following this the traders and residents of the area protested that led to the crime.
A mob of over 30 persons attacked the localities resulting in the killing of Ramlal and injuring two bothers, Naresh and Subhash, sons of a municipal councillor of Ward No 11, Ms Santosh Khinchi.
The victim was declared dead at the local government hospital but the family members and other residents of the areas insisted on cremating the body only after action against those who had attacked Ramlal. Sitting on dharna, the residents demanded the shifting of the basti that led to clashes between them and the police.
The police had a to face the wrath of the basti inhabitants who attacked them.
Following the ongoing protest by the residents and shopkeepers, the police had to lathi charge and use teargas to disperse the mobs of basti dwellers and protesters.
Agencies add:
The SP said 15 policemen, including an Additional SP, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector, as also five others were injured when the mob pelted stones.
Ramlal’s body was placed at Meera Chowk by the protesters who alleged that people from Chajgaria Mohalla indulged in criminal activities and should be evicted, the Collector said.
The protesters demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, the SP said.
