Attack on police party: 10 accused sent to jail

Altogether 35 persons were taken into custody in connection with brickbatting on cops, who had gone to prevent illegal cow slaughter on Eid ul-Adha yesterday in Jharkhand's Pakur district, police said.

But after interrogation, 25 of them were released on personal bonds and the rest 10 are being forwarded to jail, Pakur Superintendent of Police Shailendra Prasad Burnwal said here today.

The SP said the situation was under control and adequate force have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Altogether five FIRs including three from the district administration have been registered against 10 named persons and 200 unknown following the incident, police sources said.

Apart from Burnwal, the senior officials of the district including DIG (Santal Paragana) Raj Kumar Lakra, Deputy Commissioner D K Jha were camping in the village to keep a close watch over the situation.

Earlier, the district police and RAF personnel led by Burnwal have launched a massive search operation to nab the culprits involved in the brickbatting.

Cow slaughter has been banned in Jharkhand since 2015. The state government had on August 18 directed deputy commissioners of all districts to ensure that cattle is not slaughtered on Eid.

Yesterday, villagers attacked a group of policemen when they tried to prevent illegal cow slaughter in Dangapara village under Maheshpur police station of Pakur district, leaving four cops injured, officials said.

Police had to burst tear gas shells to disperse the unruly mob attacking the police team.

"We had received a call informing that cattle were being slaughtered and accordingly dispatched a police team. As soon as the team reached the spot, villagers started brick batting, forcing the police to lob tear gas shells to disperse the mob," Additional Director General of Police R K Malik had said.