Seven persons — five protesters and two policemen — were killed and over 40 injured in clashes during an eviction drive in Mathura district on Thursday, a top official said.
The clashes broke out when activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, resisted the police trying to remove illegal occupants from a piece of land in Jawahar Bagh, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.
Inspector-General (Law and Order) H.R. Sharma said around 3,000 encroachers pelted stones and later opened fire at the police team as they reached the spot in Jawahar Bagh. In retaliation, the police opened fire, he said.
SP killed in firing
Chief Medical Officer Vivek Mishra said five protesters and two policemen were killed. SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and SHO, Farah police station, Santosh Kumar were killed in firing by the encroachers, Mr. Sharma and Mr. Mishra told PTI.
Mr. Mishra said at least four dozen people, including, two dozen police personnel, were injured.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced an ex gratia of Rs. 20 lakh to the family of the deceased policemen. He directed the Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) to rush to the spot. Ram Vraksha Yadav, leader of the activists, and the security officer of the group Chandan Gaur managed to flee, along with thousands of their supporters, District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said. — PTI
