Mob attacks police station following rumour of torture death

A mob today set on fire Pothia police station in Kishanganj district following rumour that a tribal person was killed due to torture by policemen inside the police station, officials said.
The mob consists of armed tribals also torched two jeeps belonging to Pothia police station, an MUV, three motorcycles and a large number of files.
Police fired 10 rounds in the air to disperse the mob, District Magistrate Pankaj Dikshit said.
The firing, however, angered the tribals more and they attacked the policemen with bow and arrow forcing the men in uniform to flee from the Pothia police station.

Dikshit, SP Rajiv Mishra, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mohammad Shafique and SDPO Kamini Bala reached the spot along with additional force but they camped some distance away from the police station because of the grave situation.
Shafique said talks were on with the agitated people to bring the situation under control.

The SDM said one Raju Hansda was arrested two days ago while he was taking liquor. He was hospitalised after his health condition deteriorated during interrogation.
However, some people spread a rumour that Hansda was tortured by the police and killed, enraging the tribals who resorted to arson and attacked the police station.

The relatives of Hansda have met him, Shafique said.
Officials said that Hansda was first admitted to Kishanganj Sadar Hospital which referred him to Kishanganj Medical College and Hospital.
Later, he was again referred to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital at Siliguri in West Bengal.