12 injured in group attack

Kolhapur, Jul 1 (UNI) As many as 12 people were seriously injured when a group of people on night patrolling attacked them in the powerloom town of Ichalkaranji in the district early today.

Police said considering the growing incidents of robbery in the town, the residents of Jawaharnagar area had formed a vigilante squad and they were patrolling the area late last night. At that time, some people were passing through the area who, after seeing the squad, ran for cover in a factory.

Suspecting them to be robbers, they chased and attacked them with sticks, stones and other materials. All the victims hailed from Rajasthan and they were working as workers in the factory.

The squad members also damaged three motorcycles, four cycles and some fixtures inside the factory. Later, the squad members fled from the spot, when police reached there.

Then, a search operation was launched to nab the culprits, in which about 15 people were picked, who have been booked under various sections, police said.

The injured people have been admitted to two hospitals here, where the condition of four of them is reported to be critical, they added.

UNI BBK SSS AG1943