A Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable was stoned to death and two policemen sustained injuries as hundreds of hawkers fought pitched battles with the police during a drive to evict them from the railway premises in northern West Bengal's Malda town on Monday, officials said.
"Enraged over the anti-hawking drive, a large number of hawkers attacked the RPF armoury and a food plaza. They also threw stones and cold drinks bottles at the RPF personnel leading to the death of constable S. Samanta," Malda divisional railway manager (DRM) Rajesh Argal said.
Even as the RPF constable was being thrashed, the security personnel fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob, said a police officer.
The RPF constable was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead.
Two other constables were also injured in the attack.
Police said they have registered a complaint.
"An FIR of unnatural death has been registered and we will be conducting raids. The victim was stoned by a couple of people at very close quarters," Malda Superintendent of Police Prasun Banerjee said.
Police said no one has been detained so far.
"We are yet to receive any communication from the railway police on this," the police official said.
A large number of state police and RPF personnel were deployed at the station in the aftermath of the violance.
Claiming that police personnel have been snatching away their goods and also extorting money, the hawkers had earlier this month staged a demonstration outside the DRM office against the alleged police atrocities and demanded they be allowed to carry on their business at the station.
Railway officials said there were 632 unauthorised hawkers at the station.
"We have explained to them in the past that we cannot allow unauthorised hawkers on the platform as per rules," Argal said.
