Hundreds attacked a police station at Bardah near Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, allegedly to free a suspect who was held in custody for burglary.
The group of locals pelted stones and tried to break into the station’s storeroom, injuring four policemen, including a head constable, in the process.
The UP police have registered a case against 150 people, out of which, 37 were arrested which includes 11 women.
The incident happened after a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrested Santosh Bharati, wanted in a burglary case, from Narve village near Bardah.
As news of his arrest spread, many locals, arrived outside the police station in tractors and cars.
The mob entered into an argument with the cops and demanded the release of Bharati. When cops refused to oblige the villagers reportedly damaged the building’s windows and furniture by pelting stones before barging into the station.
The station officer and the injured head constable have lodged two separate complaints against 150 unknown persons for their alleged role in the attack. Police said they have arrested 26 men for ransacking the station and 11 women for breaching peace.
The villagers then proceeded to block the Azamgarh-Jaunpur road but fled the scene when district magistrate LY Suhas and superintendent of police Ajay Sahani reached the spot with backup.
{{/usCountry}}The villagers then proceeded to block the Azamgarh-Jaunpur road but fled the scene when district magistrate LY Suhas and superintendent of police Ajay Sahani reached the spot with backup.
{{/usCountry}}Sahani said many police teams were deployed near Bardah market and Narve village to prevent further incidents. Several teams have been formed to nab the other culprits who are on the run, he said.