Police lobbed teargas shells after irate residents of Lavachha village in Valsad district in Gujarat today resorted to stone pelting and torched three police vehicles during their protest over the alleged murder of a villager.
Lavachha village is situated on the border of Valsad and adjoining Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is located at the main road connecting industrial town of Vapi in Valsad district with Silvassa in the Union Territory.
According to police, people from north India, who have a large presence in and around Lavachha, were furious after one Suresh Tiwari, a resident of the village, was allegedly killed by around five persons.
"Seeking justice and immediate action against the culprits in the alleged murder case, the mob blocked traffic on the main road. Within hours, more than 2000 people came on the road and started pelting stones on policemen. To disperse them, police have also fired some teargas shells," Valsad control room in-charge Dilip Patel said.
According to Patel, a few days back, Tiwari was involved in a brawl with some villagers. "As he had sustained injuries in the incident, he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died yesterday. Thousands came on the main road this morning to protest Tiwari's death," he added.
When police learnt that a mob of villagers had blocked the main road, a large posse of police rushed to the spot to control the situation, when the irate crowd indulged in stone-pelting and arson.
Dang district SP V V Chaudhari, who is also in-charge of Valsad, said the mob torched three police vehicles.
"They torched three police vehicles, including two police vans. They also caused damage to private property. Some of our policemen were also injured in stone pelting. However, no one was seriously hurt. The situation is under control now," said Chaudhari.
He said an FIR will be registered in this regard.
