A mob resorted to stone pelting when police personnel went to disperse villagers from squatting on a highway in protest against the missing of a Shiv Ling from a temple in Tazpur today, police said.
The police had to resort to mild force when the villagers refused to budge and indulged in brick-batting, the police said.
Following the incident, authorities clamped prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC banning an assembly of more than four persons in Chouparan police station limit of Hazaribag district, official sources said.
Police patrolling has been intensified and four persons have been arrested in this connection, the police said.
A large number of villagers had squatted on NH 2 after they found the Shiv Ling missing from the temple in the morning and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and restoration of the Shiv Ling, the police said.
The miscreants have also damaged other idols in the temple premises, the police said.
On being informed of the blockade, the Sub-divisional Police Officer (Barhi), Manish Kumar along with adequate force rushed to the spot and pursued the protestors to withdraw their protest, assuring them of stern action against the culprits.
But the villagers returned to the spot soon after being dispersed.
The Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla and Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta rushed to the area and pursued the protestors to lift their agitation.
Though the Shiv Ling was yet to be traced but the situation is peaceful, Shukla said adding that the villagers have agreed to participate in a peace committee meeting to be convened soon.
Senior officials were also camping in the area to keep an eye on the mischief mongers, the police said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
