Nasik / Mumbai : A tribal youth was killed when the police opened fire on a mob that attacked and injured six policemen in Harsul town of Nashik district on Tuesday, officials have said. “The mob was heading towards a place of worship in Harsul town when the police intervened and stopped them from proceeding further.
However, they started attacking the police and failed to heed repeated warnings, after which the police fired on them,” said Inspector P.T. Sapkale of Nashik Rural control room.
Sapkale emphasized that it was “a stray incident with absolutely no connection” to the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela which opened here early Tuesday morning, and the situation in Harsul town, around 60 km away, is fully under control. Local sources, however, blamed the delayed police action for the communal flare up. The deceased has been identified as Ramdas Gangaram Budhar (26).
In the attack on the police personnel, at least six, including an assistant superintendent of police, were injured and the condition of one who suffered head injuries is described as “serious”. The mob was demanding action against those responsible for the death of youth Bhagirath Choudhary (20) whose body was found in a well in the town last week.
According to local sources, there have been 4-5 similar incidents in the past one and a half year when the police were accused of inaction or inadequate action. The mob later gathered in Harsul and started attacking shops owned by a particular community.
