Mathura: 2 cops including SP killed in eviction drive

Mangalore Today News Network

Mathura, Jun 03, 2016, DHNS: Five protesters and two policemen, including an SP, were killed and over 40 people injured in clashes during a drive to evict illegal occupants of a land in Mathura district, a top official said.

The clashes broke out when the police were trying to evict illegal occupants of a land in Jawahar Bagh by activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.

IG (Law and Order) H R Sharma said around 3,000 encroachers pelted stones and later opened fire at the police team as they reached the spot.

In retaliation, the police had to fire after using batons and tear gas at them, he said.

Chief Medical Officer of the district Vivek Mishra said five protesters and two policemen were killed in the clashes.

SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and SHO, Farah police station, Santosh Kumar were killed in firing by the encroachers, Sharma and Mishra said.

Mishra said at least four dozen people, including, two dozen police personnel, were injured in the skirmishes.

Search operations were on in Jawahar Bagh though activists of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi were evicted by the joint operation of the police, PAC and the RAF. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased policemen.He directed the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to rush to the spot and bring the situation under control.

He also directed that additional police reinforcement be rushed to the area and the guilty be arrested.

Ram Vraksha Yadav, leader of the activists, and the security officer of the group Chandan Gaur managed to flee along with thousands of their supporters, district magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.