MALDA: Fuming against alleged police atrocities, hundreds of villagers attacked Milki outpost under English Bazar police station and ransacked it before setting it on fire on Monday. They alleged that a villager had died in custody after police beat him up. Fifteen people have been arrested.
On Sunday night, several boards were set up to play games of dice on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja.
Around 10pm, police raided Niamatpur and picked up eight gamblers.
Bablu Sk, upapradhan of the local
gram panchayat, alleged, “Police began to beat them up severely while shoving them into a police van. We protested.” Aynul Haque (64), one of the arrested, fell ill and complained of chest pain. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
As the news spread, hundreds of villagers vandalized the outpost. Two police vehicles were allegedly ransacked. Several two-wheelers were stolen. Finally, the
mob set the outpost on fire.