Police blank fire against resisting villagers

Burdwan (WB) Feb 8 (PTI) Police burst teargas shells andfired four rounds in the air to disperse a mob of villagersresisting destroying of illegally grown poppy seeds in avillage in West Bengal''s Burdwan district today.

However, none was injured in the incident, districtmagistrate Omkar Singh Meena said.

Trouble erupted when the police after destroying illegalpoppy seeds in three villages under Pandugram panchayat areaentered a fourth village and faced stiff resistance by womenand children.

Inhabitants of the other three villages angry at havinglost their produce demanded that the police do the same in thefourth village too.

During the standoff between the police and the women andchild protestors bombs and stones were hurled at the force.

The police then fired four rounds and burst teargas shells.

Meena said police reinforcements were rushed to the spotand the situation was brought under control.

Police then destroyed poppy seeds grown in about 150bighas.