7 policemen injured as protest turns violent in Pathankot

Seven policemen including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) were injured after some residents of village Akhwana in Punjab's Pathankot district hurled bricks at them during a protest, officials said today.

The incident took place yesterday evening when the villagers were staging a sit-in against the construction of a wall by a beverage company on a road in an industrial area nearby.

The villagers are opposed to the move as the wall will block the road on which a gate has been erected in the memory of martyr Manjit Singh, the police said.

"We initially tried to persuade the villagers to end their sit-in, but then some miscreants in the crowd started throwing bricks and stones at the police," an official said.

The situation got tense when seven cops sustained injuries after being hit by bricks, the police said.

Reinforcements were brought in to bring the situation under control. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd, they added.

Heavy police deployment has been made in the village, though the situation is under control, they said.

A case has been registered against unidentified persons under relevant sections including 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC.