14 Individuals Arrested Following Assault on Police in Bengal's Birbhum
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, April 2 (NationPress) Authorities have detained at least 14 individuals following an attack on police during a conflict related to road construction in Suri, situated in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, as reported on Thursday.
The altercation occurred late on Wednesday night while a road was being paved in Kankuria village.
Law enforcement officials stated there was an ongoing dispute regarding the roadwork due to a land contention. The construction company initiated work with heavy machinery, which prompted a confrontation between the locals and the workers. The situation escalated rapidly into violence. Upon receiving reports, a police team led by Inspector in Charge (IC) Shailenda Upadhyay of the Suri police station arrived at the scene.
During this time, it was alleged that some villagers began to hurl bricks and stones at the police, resulting in extensive damage to police vehicles and injuries among several officers.
IC Shailenda Upadhyay suffered serious injuries and was promptly transported to Suri Sadar Hospital. In response to the violence, a significant number of police and Central forces were deployed to the area, with two companies of Central forces arriving to restore order.
A senior police official from Birbhum district remarked, "We have apprehended 14 individuals connected to this incident, including several women. Multiple police personnel have sustained injuries and are currently hospitalized. We will pursue strict legal action against those responsible for the attack on our officers."
It’s noteworthy that the state police faced criticism for their delayed deployment of Central forces in light of previous violent incidents across the state. However, in this situation, Central forces were dispatched promptly to manage the unrest and facilitate the arrest of the 14 individuals involved in the assault on police.