KHARGONE: Three policemen were injured when a mob of around 150 tribals attacked a police station in Khargone district on Tuesday following the death of a Bhil in custody.
The attackers hurled barrage after barrage of stones with traditional slings, forcing the cops to lock themselves up within the building. They overturned police vehicles and were about to set fire to Bistan police station when reinforcements arrived. Pitched battles swung to and fro, and police had to fire in the air and use tear gas to disperse the attackers.
The dead tribal, 35-year-old Bisan of Khairkundi village, was arrested with11 others for allegedly robbing people on the highway on August 24. Police say they recovered cash and valuables from them. He was in police remand till September 6 after which he was remanded in jail.
Khargone SP Shailendra Singh told TOI that Bisan complained of uneasiness and died during treatment at the district hospital. Bisan’s relatives were informed about the death and asked to reach the hospital. “Some notorious individuals incited the people, and more than150 armed men attacked Bistan police station, which is about 2km from Khairkundi village,” additional SP Jitendra Singh Pawar said.
Cops fire in air to force attackers to retreat
The dozen-odd cops at the police station were taken by surprise. As stones smashed against the walls and windows, the policemen locked themselves in. Outside, the mob went on the rampage, daring the cops to come out and face them.
Police had to fire in the air, forcing some of the attackers to retreat and allow time for reinforcements to reach. “Had the force not arrived in time, the attackers would have set the police station on fire,” SDM Khargone Satyendra Singh told TOI.
The reinforcements covered the 17km from Khargone to Bistan in 15 minutes, and charged the mob. An intense fight broke out. “Three policemen were injured in the attack,” said the SDM.
“A judicial probe has begun into Bisan’s death. His autopsy was performed in the presence of a magistrate and recorded on video,” SDM Singh said.
DIG Khargone Tilak Singh said Bisan did not report any difficulty when he was produced in court and sent to jail after a medical check-up. “The post-mortem report will reveal the exact cause of death,” he said, adding that the SP has suspended four policemen, including a sub-inspector, after custodial death allegations came up.
The area is still tense. Ramtu Bai, Bisan’s wife, alleged that police beat him to death. “How will I raise my four children now?” she demanded. In the evening, the government announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the bereaved family under Sambal Yojana.
Bisan’s kin were given Rs5,000 for the funeral, and Rs 25,000 by the Red Cross on Tuesday. Bhagwanpura’s independent legislator Kedar Dawar has also released Rs 10,000 to the family from the MLA fund.
The incident triggered a political controversy with Congress accusing the ruling BJP of atrocities against tribals. PCC president Kamal Nath questioned the state government on law and order in the state, and accused it of working against the interests of tribals.
Congress formed a factfinding committee of four MLAs, headed by former minister Vijay Lakshmi Sadho. The team joined Bisan’s kin outside the autopsy room and didn’t allow the body to be taken away, demanding that the police personnel be booked for murder.
Sadho alleged that Bisan and three other accused were beaten severely. “Police are resorting to goondaism against tribals. Mama’s sarkar (CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government) is acting like the Taliban,” she alleged.
MLA Dabar demanded compensation to the family and action against the doctor, who gave a medical clearance for sending Bisan to jail.
BJP spokesperson Umesh Sharma refuted the allegations and said, “All the 12 policemen at Bistan station are also tribals. Their immediate officer is a tribal. The man who lodged the complaint of robbery was a tribal. How is the Congress party alleging atrocity against tribals? It is simply trying to gain political mileage and divide the state’s tribal community over such unfortunate incidents.”
