3 policemen battling for lives

Police say three policemen, attacked by a mob in Jamia Nagar on Saturday, are fighting for their lives at a city hospital, reports Vijaita Singh.

Three policemen, attacked by a mob in Jamia Nagar on Saturday, are fighting for their lives at a city hospital, the police said.

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They were brutally beaten up with sticks by a mob of at least a hundred people, the police and their relatives alleged, during clashes between the police and civilians.

Violence broke out in Jamia Nagar when an altercation between a vendor and a policeman spun out of control, prompting a mob to attack the Jamia Nagar police post.

"He was alone, he could not defend himself, it's criminal," said GS Yadav, brother of Inspector Akhilesh Yadav, admitted at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Yadav has sustained multiple fractures. "After mercilessly beating him up, the mob took away his wallet, gold chain, ring, mobile phone and wireless set," his brother said.

On word that violence had broken out, Yadav, Additional Station House Officer of New Friends Colony Police Station, had rushed to the police post attacked by the mob.

"In the meantime, a mob gathered outside and burnt his jeep. He was attacked when he came out to see his burning vehicle. A mob of more than a hundred people started raining blows on him, pulled his hair and beat him with

lathis

, leaving him bleeding profusely," said a police officer.

Yadav, admitted at the neuro Intensive Care Unit of Apollo Hospital, underwent an operation on Sunday morning for skull injury. His family said on Monday he would undergo one more surgery.

"He is yet to gain consciousness. We are praying for his speedy recovery. He was given six stitches on his head. He was just trying to save his colleagues and a mob beat him up," said his brother.

Hitesh, one of Yadav's friends, said "he has bruises all over his body. His family is inconsolable."

Constables Shambhu Meena and Deepak Kumar were also severely beaten up and are recuperating at the same hospital. Meena was on his motorcycle when he was stopped by a mob near Kalindi Kunj and beaten up mercilessly.