Three persons were killed when the police allegedly opened fire on devotees during a clash at a Brahmani Devi temple,around 50 km from Etawah,on Sunday. Seven persons,including four policemen,were injured in the violence. The police said they had to open fire to control the unruly mob. According to the police,more than 500 people were in the temple on the occasion of Ramnavami. Two groups of devotees,most of them drunk,clashed over who would first post the religious flag of the temple. Some of them tried to jump the queue. When the police tried to intervene,they were thrashed. The mob tried to snatch firearms from the police,following which the cops opened fire. The devotees also damaged a PAC camp near the temple. DGP A C Sharma said the police opened fire to bring the situation under control. He added that a magisterial inquiry had been ordered and the case would be investigated by the Crime Branch CID.
