12 policemen injured in mob attack

KEONJHAR, SEPT. 26. Police today fired in the air to disperse a violent crowd which resorted to heavy brick-batting here to protest the Government's failure to combat the elephant menace in Keonjhar district, according to official sources. At least twelve policemen, a magistrate on duty and an unspecified number of people had been injured in the incident.

A large crowd gathered under the banner of Banyajantu Prapidit Surakhya Parishad, an organisation seeking redressal for the loss of lives and property caused by frequent elephant attacks in the villages.

The people came in a procession and submitted a memorandum to the collector. While returning, the crowd turned violent and attacked the office of the Divisional Forest Officer near the Collectorate. Police first resorted to lathicharge but when it failed to have any impact, they fired in the air. The sources said tension prevailed in the town though the situation was under control.

- PTI

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