Five cops injured in clash with villagers in Varanasi

VARANASI: Angry over the kidnapping and murder of a minor boy, a mob today set ablaze vehicles, blocked the national highway near Badagaon and pelted stones at the police, in which five cops were injured.

At least 44 people from Sagunaha village were detained in connection with the clash and an FIR has been registered against unidentified persons for inciting violence, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jogendra Kumar said.

The incident is the fallout of the kidnapping and murder of a minor boy, Raunak, from the village two months ago. Two brothers were arrested in this connection and they are presently in jail.

A group of men from Sagunaha village set ablaze a motorcycle and another vehicle, besides ransacking the house of the accused duo, Kumar said, adding the villagers also blocked the Varanasi-Lucknow Highway.

When local police reached the spot, the villagers allegedly damaged government vehicles and pelted stones on them in which five policemen were seriously injured.

The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control, the SSP said, adding a PAC personnel and policemen have been deployed in and around the village to monitor the situation.