Villagers attack policemen over land dispute

LUCKNOW - Six policemen were injured in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district when a mob attacked them for freeing government land being used illegally for agriculture, an official said Wednesday.

Armed with wooden sticks and stones, a large number of people from Bharapachpera village late Tuesday evening attacked the policemen as they tried to free the ‘gram sabha’ land being used by the villagers for sowing crops.

“After attacking the policemen, the villagers also tried to snatch away their firearms. On the basis of the preliminary enquiry, we booked 40 people for attacking the police party,” Superintendent of Police Prem Gautam told reporters in Pilibhit, about 250 km from here.

“Of the 40 booked, we have managed to arrest five people till now. Teams have been constituted to arrest the remaining villagers who attacked the policemen,” he added.

The six policemen, including two inspectors, are being treated at a hospital for the injuries they sustained in the incident. They are out of danger.