Traders agitation turns violent, 2 dead in police firing

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) Two persons, including a 7-year-old child, were killed in firing by police at a violent mob in Seelampur area of North-East Delhi as agitation by traders in the Capital entered a violent phase with protestors and demonstrators confronting the police at several places.

A senior police official while confirming the death of two persons added that more than 50 policemen, including senior police officials, were injured in the pitched battle fought between the agitators and the security personnel deployed to maintain peace.

''Two persons were killed, which perhaps includes a child.'' Police had to resort to firing after a thousand-strong violent mob attacked it. ''It was forced to taek the step after all other means to control the mob failed.'' Presently the situation is under control, he added.

Medical superintendent G T B Hopsital, L C Thakur, where the injured were brought among other places, also confirmed the death of two persons. ''Among the injured were several policemen and fire brigade personnel.'' However, some reports said the toll in today's firing had reached three. Senior police officials could not be contacted for confirmation.

Sources said pitched battles between agitators and the police were fought at several places with the worse reported from Bhajanpura and Seelampur, where the scene turned ugly after rampaging mob attacked the police party.

''The mob initially took to stone-pelting but after the 'attack' turned violent, the police resorted to lathicharge in which several people were injured. Later, as the crowd swelled and others joined the protests, police used tear gas shells to disperse the mob.'' In the brickbatting, several dozen policemen, including area Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), were injured, they said.

''When eveything failed to quell the aggressively approaching mob, which continued to pelt stones at the police team, it resorted to firing in which two persons died.'' In total about 30 persons were seriously injured of which most were admitted to the G T B Hospital, sources added.

Additional DCP (North-East) Rajiv Ranjan said the violence had nothing to do with the 'bandh' call by traders. ''Some anti-social elements took advantage of the situation and created the flare-up.'' Virtually giving a clean chit to the agitating traders, he said the 'bandh' was peaceful and the traders were winding up the agitation at about 1130 hrs when some lumpen elements took over.

''Not less than 50 policemen, including senior police officials, were injured in the attack by the mob.'' Meanwhile, the roughly five kilometre area between Seelampur and Maujpur resembled a battle ground with strewn stones, bricks and broken sticks all around. Even cemented road dividers over the entire stretch had been reduced to dust by the agitating mob which was anything but the trading community, police said.

Several traffic lights and sapling covers were also broken by the rampaging mob, which also burnt set on fire a motorcycle belong to the police.

UNI AN VD KN1935

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