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Mathura anti-encroachment drive: At least 21 killed as clash intesifies

by IBNS 03 Jun 2016, 09:09 am

Mathura, Jun 3 (IBNS) At least 21 people, including two policemen, lost their lives as agitations intensified following an anti encroachment drive in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on Friday, reports said.

A mob of 3000 people, who call themselves Satyagrahis, had occupied Mathura's Jawahar Bagh park, a 260-acre facility, for more than two years. Clashes between the police and the mob took place when the former decided to check the sight on Thursday.

Stones were pelted at the police, following a round of firing.

Uttar Pradesh police chief Javed Ahmad was quoted as saying by NDTV, "There was unprovoked firing from the members of an offshoot of the Jai Gurudev sect. Heavily armed men from the other side fired at the police."

The two policemen killed in the clash were identified as Mukul Dwivedi, Superintendent of Police and Santosh Kumar, Station House officer of Farah police station, reports said.   

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs. 20 lakh for the family of the deceased.

The police had earlier failed to evict the encroachers despite an order from the court, which demanded their eviction from the park.