Jharkhand residents protest against police over civilian death

Bendi (Jharkhand), May 3 (ANI): Inhabitants of Bendi village in Jharkhand's Latehar District on Sunday blocked railway traffic on the Barwadih-Barkakana route and staged a demonstration against police over a civilian's death.

The protestors claimed that the police killed a woman named Jayanti Devi and injured another villager during a gunfight with suspected Maoist rebels on Tuesday.

They shouted slogans against the police and demanded an explanation from authorities on the incident.

"Police have killed a woman of Ladi village and we are protesting and blocking the track against the killing... Innocent people must not be victimised. We know that the police is fighting Maoist rebels, but why do they kill innocent people and we need an explanation from them," said Rajdeo Singh.

The police refuted the charges.

"When we receive any information, then we go for investigations...but the police never target or fire at any innocent villager," said Ajit Peter Dungdung, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Latehar.

Jharkhand is one of the Indian states badly affected by Maoist violence.

Thousands of paramilitary troops have been scouring the jungles in east and central India to take on Maoist rebels, who say that they are crusading against the establishment for the poor. (ANI)