Villagers clash with police in Gujarat; 5 injured

Five persons, including two policemen, were on Tuesday injured in an incident of police firing and stone pelting in Dabhel village in Navsari district of Gujarat, a senior police official said.

The incident took place when members of a minority community attacked a police team, which had gone to probe reports of cow-slaughter.

Police lobbed tear-gas shells and later fired in the air to disperse a violent mob in the village. "Over 200 people, belonging to a minority community attacked the police with stones, when the team went to Dabhel village to probe reports of cow-slaughter," District Superintendent of Police (SP) Nilesh Jajadia told PTI.

"To counter the mob attack, police first lobbed tear-gas shells. However, when we failed to disperse the crowd, we had to open fire at the stone pelters, in which three persons were injured," Jajadia added.

After the angry villagers started hurling stones at the policemen, an additional contingent of police was called in. According to Jajadia, the mob also broke the wind-shield of his official car with stones, while a police constable lost his rifle, which was later recovered.

Twelve villagers have been arrested in this connection and two FIRs have been registered against them -- for attacking the police and cow-slaughter. 

Vadodara and Ahmedabad cities in Gujarat have recently witnessed similar incidents of violence.