Malda: Mob sets police outpost on fire after man held for gambling dies in lock-up

Sources said that as the news spread that Khan has died in the lock-up, people gathered outside the police station and started protesting, accusing the police of beating him to death.

Police, on the other hand, said that Khan died during mob violence as protesters did not allow him to be taken to the hospital.

According to police, the mob damaged one police vehicle and assaulted the officers, before setting the outpost on fire, resulting in damage of important documents. “During the violence, four policemen were injured… Khan died before he could be taken to Malda Medical College and Hospital. The body has been sent for a postmortem. The actual cause of death will be ascertained after the report is filed,” said the SP.

Police have arrested 15 people following the violence.

“Such incidents of attacks on the police cannot be accepted. Search operations are on and will continue,” Rajoria said, adding that a huge contingent of police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed at the spot.

In August, an accident, in which a man was run over by a tractor, had triggered similar mob violence in Malda district’s Ratua police station area.