Policeman among two killed in Bihar clash

Police fired at rioters in Vaishali district in Bihar on Wednesday killing a civilian while a mob beat a police officer to death, officials said.

Ajit Kumar, officer in-charge of Belsar police outpost, was thrashed by a mob and succumbed to his injuries.

A youth was earlier injured as police fired to disperse the mob in Lalganj area. He died during treatment, a police officer said.

According to reports, tension gripped Lalganj and the area has become a fortress.

Bihar police chief P.K. Thakur later said the situation was under control.

Ajit Kumar was attacked when he and his colleagues intervened during a clash between two communities after two people -- Rajendra Choudhary, 65, and his granddaughter -- died in a road accident.

The mob set ablaze houses of a particular community, including those of the driver and owner of an auto-rickshaw after the accident, a police officer said.

Police fired in the air to disperse the mob. The villagers pelted stones at police and chased them away. Ajit Kumar was caught by the mob and badly beaten up.

He was admitted in a serious condition to the Patna Medical College and Hospital where he died.

One of the three people injured in police firing also died. He was identified as Rakesh Kumar.

Additional security forces have been deployed in Lalganj.

Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed police officials to act against the police officer's killers. He also postponed his visit to Ranchi.