FIR against 374 people for hurling stones at police station

An FIR has been lodged against 374 people for resorting to arson and hurling stones at a local police station following the death of two alleged gamblers last night at Chawni area in this district.

Also, two policemen, Parveen and Sandeep, who conducted the raid at gambling den, have been suspended and attached to the police line, Deputy Inspector General of Police R K S Rathore said.

The agitated locals set ablaze 14 motorcycles, two cars and other properties while protesting the death of two alleged gamblers.

The bodies of Dinesh (18) and Satish (19) have been handed over to the family members after post mortem, DIG said, adding that the cremation was attended by Union Minister Santosh Gangwar.

He said that Rapid Action Force and PAC was patrolling in the area, which was still tense.

Last evening some people allegedly engaged in gambling when some police personnel in civil dress reached the spot and chased them, police said.

Three of the youths jumped into a river to escape. Later, the bodies of two of them were recovered but the third person could not be traced, they said.

The villagers said that gambling on Diwali night was a custom, but the police was trying to extort money which led to the death of two people.

Following the incident, the irate locals threw stones at local police station and set some motorcycles in the compound on fire, police said.

Upon receiving the information, a number of top police officers reached the spot to bring the situation under control.

Section 144 was imposed and Rapid Action Force was deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward incident, they said.

Deputy Inspector General R K S Rathore said that the situation was under control and investigation was underway.