3 killed, 18 injured in police lathicharge in Bihar

Three persons were killed and 18 others injured when the police resorted to lathicharge after being attacked by a mob in Bihar's Siwan district on Wednesday, a senior police official said.

The police, which went to rescue a woman who was beaten up on the suspicion of being a child-lifter, was attacked with stones by the mob when they arrived on the scene at Madarpur Bazar under Basantpur police station, Superintendent of Police Amrit Raj said.

The SP denied that firing was resorted to.

The victims were identified as Kapil Prasad (70), Deu Ram (70) and Ajay Kumar (15). Among the 18 injured were 14 policemen and civil officers who were admitted to hospital.

Three of the injured policemen were referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

The situation at Madarpur Bazar was tense, but under control and additional policemen were deployed as a precautionary measure, the SP said.