Police-villagers clash in Birbhum district

At least 27 policemen, and six villagers were injured in pitched battles early on Tuesday in West Bengal's Birbhum district, officials said.

Residents of the Loba village in the Khairasole police station area attacked the police party which went there early on Tuesday to recover a earth-moving machine of a project which was forcibly kept by the villagers.

West Bengal Home secretary Basudeb Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata that 27 policemen and six villagers were injured in the clash. He said that the police did not resort to firing and had shown patience.