3 cops injured in attack by villagers

Ongole (AP), Sep 21: Three policemen were injured and their jeep was damaged when they were allegedly attacked by villagers for stopping an objectionable dance programme at a Ganesh pandal in Prakasam district in the early hours today.

Acting on a tip-off about "obscene" dances being performed by some transgenders at a Ganesh pandal in Pakala Pallepalem village, a police team led by sub-inspector (SI) Y V Ramanaiah rushed there at around 4 AM and stopped the activity, Ongole town sub-divisional officer G Sriniwas Rao said.

The villagers strongly opposed this and allegedly attacked the policemen, he said. To control the situation, police lathi-charged the attackers.

In retaliation, the villagers pelted stones on the policemen, he said. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the tense village and additional forces deployed, he said, adding a case has been registered but no arrests made so far.

In the incident, a Home Guard, who was driving the police jeep, sustained serious head injury. SI Ramanaiah and a constable were also hurt, he said, adding that the angry villagers also damaged the police jeep.

The villagers also stopped media persons from covering the incident. They allegedly confined some journalists in the village for sometime, but later released them, the police officer said.

The situation has been brought under control, he said. The injured Home Guard was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences at Ongole while the other two cops were treated at a local hospital, he added.

PTI