Mob turns on cops trying to stop scuffle, 50 booked for rioting

GHAZIABAD: Police booked over 50 people in Loni on Friday, on charges of rioting and attempt to murder two cops, during a brawl involving street hawkers.
The incident took place at the Loni T-point, late on Thursday evening. The cops — head constable Sukhpal Singh and constable Sanjiv Kumar — were attacked by a riotous mob when they were on patrol duty in the area.
Cops named 21 people in the FIR lodged in Loni police station. An additional 35 unknowns have also been charged with the offences. The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by Sukhpal Singh.
The accused have been charged under 12 sections of the IPC, including sections 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (deterring public servant from discharging his duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Relevant sections of the Criminal Law (amendment) Act have also been invoked in the FIR, for violating public order.
According to police, the constables had intervened to save a man being thrashed by a group of hawkers, following a tiff over bargaining.
“Public ire, however, turned against the cops soon after they intervened. They were thrashed by the group. The man who was being beaten up by the group, escaped in the melee, while the cops were hit with stones and sharp objects. They sustained injuries on their heads and backs. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot soon after. The duo was rushed to a nearby government hospital for treatment. They were later shifted to a private hospital, from where they were discharged Friday evening,” said DSP Ghaziabad Anil Kumar.
Locals in Loni said after being reprimanded by cops for creating a nuisance on the road and causing a traffic jam, some angry hawkers returned with an army of supporters. “They could have peacefully protested the police action, or even filed a complaint against them, if they felt they had been wronged. It was not right to attack cops,” said Manoj Dhamma, chairman, Loni Nagar Palika Parishad.
A hunt is on to nab the accused. “We are raiding known hideouts of the accused. Arrests will be made soon,” added Kumar.