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30 hurt in police firing in Rajasthan town

Police fired 15 rounds of bullets in the air to disperse farmers protesting against power cuts in the agriculture sector in Molasar town in Nagaur district on Tuesday.

The police opened fire when they failed to disperse the mob, by lathi-charge, firing of rubber bullets and teargas shells, reports reaching the state police headquarters said.

The farmers, supporters of the Communist Party of India-Marxists had gathered in the desert town in western Rajasthan to hold a black-flag demonstration before Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who had gone there to inaugurate a 132 kva power grid-sub station.

The trouble started when Gehlot was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the sub-station, as demonstrators started waving black flags.

After he was frisked away by security personnel, the demonstrators turned violent and started throwing stones. They burnt a government vehicle, overturned another and damaged 15 others.

Over 30 persons were injured in the pitched battle between the demonstrators and the police. Three of the seriously injured have been admitted to a hospital. One of them was a jawan of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary.

Additional police forces have been sent to the troubled town from Bikaner and Jodhpur.

The police rounded up 15 persons in connection with the violence.

The CPI-M state headquarters accused the police of resorting to firing without warning. It said the police used force without provocation.

Senior police and administrative officers are reviewing the situation.

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