Police team held hostage by mob

A team of policemen had to be rescued by colleagues after they were held hostage by irate locals who prevented them from making an arrest in a murder case in the district's Barae Bilasa village, police said today.
Villagers pelted stones at the police team led by Galla Mandi chowki in-charge Radhey Shyam Dwivedi before holding them hostage when they arrived at the village last night to arrest the murder accused.
Superintendent of Police Vinay Kumar Yadav said a quick response team from adjoining police stations and the PAC had to be rushed to the village to control the situation and secure the trapped policemen's release.

He said that the body of one Shabbey of Barae Bilasa was found in the Dargah police station area in January with authorities suspecting the role of the deceased's brother, the person whose arrest was opposed yesterday by the villagers.
Yadav added that the events of last night had led to the suspension of two officers - chowki in-charge Dwivedi and Dargah police station house officer, Ved Prakash Srivastava, the investigating officer in the said murder case who reportedly fled after being told of the villagers' protest.