Haryana: 20 injured in dalit-police clash

Sonepat, Aug 28: About 20 people, including eight policemen, were injured today when dalit protesters clashed with the Haryana Police which resorted to lathicharge at Gohana town this the district where a dalit leader was shot dead last night.

Meanwhile, one unidentified old man died after he was hit by a jeep in the melee and suffered a fatal head injury.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V B Singh said police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the irate agitators who pelted stones at policemen in protest against the killing of dalit leader Rakesh Lara by three unidentified assailants last night.

Lara was the main accused in the murder of Baljit Siwach on August 26, 2005. The murder had led to arson of over 100 dalit houses in Gohana. However, Lara was later acquitted by a CBI court.

The prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC were imposed as dalit protesters came on the streets following Lara's murder. As many as eight companies of police had been deputed in the city.

Mr Singh said eight policemen were injured in the stoning incidents, with one of them suffering a fracture in the arm.

He, however, denied media reports that a child died in the police lathicharge.

Hundreds of dalit protesters gathered at the Samta Chowk in the town as the police brought the body of Rakesh Lara after a post mortem in Rohtak today. They blocked traffic at various points in the city and clashed with police.

The protesters set ablaze a police post in the town last night, blocked the Sonepat-Jind highway and damaged several vehicles.

The ADGP said the situation was under control and the efforts were on to trace his murderers.

The town had been divided into eight sectors and Duty Magistrates appointed in each of these sectors, Mr Singh added.

UNI