Several people, including some policemen, were injured when a mob went on the rampage following an accident involving two young men near a police check-post in Mayur Vihar Phase-III here on Sunday evening.
The mob damaged and burnt down several vehicles in Khora Colony in Uttar Pradesh and Mayur Vihar and chased away the policemen who reached the spot to control the situation. Police barricades were also pulled down and set afire.
Eyewitnesses said the two young men were coming towards Mayur Vihar from Khora Colony around 7-30 p.m. when they were signalled to stop at the check-post near the Delhi-U.P. border. As they refused to slow down, a policeman allegedly hit one of them with his stick. As a result, the rider lost his balance and both fell on the road sustaining injuries. However, according to the police, both the young men were drunk.
Both the injured have been admitted to a hospital.
Rumours about the death of one of the two young men sparked off protests which culminated in violence.
“Following the accident, a large number of people assembled near the check-post and started pelting stones. They burnt down the post and a few vehicles,” said Naresh, a local resident, adding that several DTC buses plying in the area had to be diverted from their original routes.
Television journalist Prashant Tripathi, whose two-wheeler was also burnt by the protesters, said: “I parked my motorcycle near a police vehicle and I followed the crowd. When I returned, I saw my two-wheeler ablaze,” said Mr. Tripathi.
When police reinforcements were rushed to the area, the mob pelted stones at them. The police used force and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Some semblance of order was restored late at night.
