Tension in Ramganj: 1 killed in firing, several injured; vehicles set on fire

Jaipur: A minor incident of a cop beating a youth once with a stick snowballed into a serious law and order situation in Ramganj area in Jaipur.

A man who according to preliminary report was identified as Mohammed Rais alias Adil was killed reportedly in firing and at least 10 policemen were injured, one of them critically, when a mob went on a rampage and hurled stones on Ramganj police station in Jaipur. At least five vehicles were set on fire by the mob. They include an ambulance and a police control room vehicle. The angry mob also torched a power house and damaged more than 21 vehicles. Watch this video to know the impact of curfew in Ramganj:

When the situation could not be controlled, the police first resorted to lathicharge and then fired tear gas. There were reports of police firing in the air to scare and disperse the crowd, but police commissioner Sanjay Agarawal denied this.

Here is what happened:

One man was killed in Ramganj firing.

• Around 7.30 pm, a constable of Ramganj police station hit a youth on bike with a stick. The youth was with his wife and daughter. They fell to the road and sustained minor injuries. It led to a verbal spat between the youth and the policeman. The couple was brought to the Ramganj police station and asked to file a formal complaint against the constable.
• Police tried to placate the couple, but as the news of the clash reached his neighbors, people began to gather outside the police station. By 9 pm, the entire police station was surrounded and the people started shouting slogans. The policemen remained inside the police station, while the crowd swelled outside.
• At 9.30 pm, the mob tried to enter the police station. A group of people reportedly touched the nearby power house. Police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas.
• Around 10 pm, the mob went on a rampage and put vehicles on fire. Most of the vehicles parked in the area were damaged. According to preliminary reports, more than 20 vehicles were damaged and five were put on fire.

Ramganj curfew.

By 1 am, the situation became serious to such an extent that the police had to impose curfew in Ramganj, Manak Chwok, Subhash Chowk and Galta Gate police station areas to restore law and order. Internet services were also banned in some areas to contain the spread of rumours.

Police commissioner Sanjay Agarwal appealed for peace and harmony and said that the guilty policemen would not be spared. Some media persons were also manhandled.

According to preliminary reports, when policemen from Ramganj police station were managing traffic and checking vehicles, a minor spat broke out between a policeman and a youth. The youth identified as Sajild told some media persons that he was going home with his wife and one year old daughter on a bike when the policeman hit him. When he told about it to the residents of his colony, they got angry and reached the police station to demand action against the policeman.

At least 10 policemen were injured in the stone pelting. One of them was critically injured and admitted to the ICU of SMS Hospital. One of the men, injured reportedly in firing, died.

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