Mob, police clash in Punjab injures 50

CHANDIGARH: The alleged custodial 'death' of a person who was later found to be just unconscious led to a clash between a mob and the police in Zirakpur town of Punjab that left nearly 50 people injured.

Twenty police personnel were among those injured in the violence that lasted around three hours on Saturday night at a police station in Zirakpur, five kilometres from here.

The wounded policemen were admitted to a government hospital here.

Traffic on the busy Chandigarh-Ambala-Delhi highway was disrupted for over two hours following the violence.

The incident took place when the police arrested a man, Chotte Lal, in connection with a land dispute. He became unconscious while in custody and his family blamed it on third-degree methods the police had allegedly used.

Chotte Lal's family and supporters thought he had died and they attacked the police station. Police officials there were thrashed.

Later, the unconscious man regained his senses and the situation seemed diffused. However, this led to the police counter-attacking the people and many were beaten up.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot to bring matters under control. Over a dozen people were rounded up for attacking the police.