Woman among 7 arrested for attack on police team in Purnia

Patna: Seven persons, including a woman, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with Monday’s attack on a police team in Purnia district that left six police personnel injured, including one who was struck in the head by an arrow.

A mob of around 300 people attacked the police team during an anti-encroachment drive in Malnia Kamat village under the Champanagar police station area. The injured police personnel were admitted to Srinagar Community Health Centre. The constable who sustained the arrow injury to the head was later referred to Purnia for further treatment, police said.

Police and administrative teams had gone to clear encroachment from 11 acres of land. Officials said more than 28 people had occupied the plot, which belongs to Sudhir Rishi of Vikrampatti Kavaiya Ward-4 under the Maranga police station area. He had filed a complaint seeking the removal of encroachment from his land.

As the police team began the eviction exercise, a large number of villagers gathered at the site. An argument soon broke out between the police and local residents. Police said they repeatedly asked the villagers to vacate the land, but the residents claimed they had been living there for a long time and refused to leave.

The situation turned violent when some members of the crowd allegedly attacked the police and administrative team with arrows, bricks, stones and spears.

“We were 60 in number. The team was getting the land vacated when villagers kept firing arrows and throwing stones. As I turned back, an arrow hit my head. More than 300 people attacked us. Three policemen suffered hand injuries. We were trying to explain, but they wouldn’t listen,” said injured chowkidar Shankar Paswan.

Following the attack, police dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control.

Sadar-2 SDPO Gaurav Kumar said seven people, including a woman, had been detained. “Information was received about assault on the magistrate and policemen who went to vacate the land. The land has been fenced and left vacant. Further investigation and raids are underway,” Gaurav said.

Police and administration teams went to remove encroachment from 11 acres of land. Officials said more than 28 people occupied the plot. The land belongs to Sudhir Rishi of Vikrampatti Kavaiya Ward-4 in Maranga police station area. He filed a complaint seeking removal of encroachment from his land.

As the police team began clearing the land, a large number of villagers gathered. An argument broke out between police and residents. Police said they repeatedly asked villagers to vacate the land, but the locals claimed they had been living there for a long time and refused to leave. The situation escalated when some people in the crowd attacked the team with arrows, bricks, stones and spears.

“We were 60 in number. The team was getting the land vacated when villagers kept firing arrows and throwing stones. As I turned back, an arrow hit my head. More than 300 people attacked us. Three policemen suffered hand injuries. We were trying to explain, but they wouldn’t listen,” said injured chowkidar Shankar Paswan.

Following the attack, police chased the crowd away.

Sadar-2 SDPO Gaurav Kumar said seven people, including one woman, have been detained. “Information was received about assault on the magistrate and policemen who went to vacate the land. The land has been fenced and left vacant. Further investigation and raids are underway,” the SDPO said.