Police fires on tribal mob; 1 killed

The tribals staged a `chakka jam’ on Sardarpur-Badnawaroad at Labaria, 70 kms from Dhar, against the death of one of their men near Singh Bhairon who died on June 18 after his release from Rajod police station and were demanding that policemen responsible for his death be handed over to them.

However, police claim that the death of Bhairon was due to cardiac failure as per the post-mortem report.

On hearing the news of chakka jam, Rajod sub divisional officer (police) R L Verma along with a police party rushed to the spot and tried to calm down the agitated tribals by telling them that Bhairon had died of a heart attack and not due to police torture.

But some of the tribals kidnapped police constable Gendalal and started beating him up mercilessly with stones, the IG said adding the constable Mahendra Singh in order to protect his man fired in self-defence in which one tribal was killed on the spot.

The seriously injured tribal was sent to Indore for treatment, police said.

The police had arrested four tribals of Labaria village in connection with a land dispute between two tribal groups on June 17.

Dhar Collector Dr Rajesh Rajoria and SP Varun Kapoor rushed to the spot on hearing the news.

The situation is tense but under control, police said.

The deceased tribal in today’s firing was yet to be identified, police said.