Cops taken hostage by angry villagers in Bihar

The villagers were "angry" with the OC for allegedly beating up people at a polling booth "without any valid reason".

The officer in-charge of Bath police station and Sub-Inspector of Sultanganj police station were taken hostage by angry villagers in Kumaintha panchayat in the district on Tuesday, official sources said.

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The sources said the villagers were "angry" with OC Dinesh Kumar Singh for allegedly beating up villagers at a polling booth "without any valid reason" during the third phase of panchayat elections in Shyampur village on May 21.

A few army jawans who had come to the village on holiday were among those beaten up by the OC, the sources said.

They said that as part of a "well crafted plan", the villagers telephoned the police about presence of criminals in the village and when the policemen arrived, they were taken captive.

Police reinforcements under a Deputy Superintendent of Police and Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar) have rushed to the village.