Bulandshahr (UP): The in-charge of Agora police post Devendra Singh Chauhan was suspended today after group clashes broke out in Khurja rural area of the district over an incident of eve-teasing of a Dalit girl on Tuesday.
Three persons were killed and four other were injured in the violence. Situation is now under control and a large contingent of policemen and PAC has been deployed.
Superintendent of Police, Khurja Rural, Vijay Gautam said, the clash started when a 16-year-old Dalit girl was eve-teased by a youth belonging to upper caste in Sehda Faridpur village near Khurja.
An altercation followed and the girl's uncle Inderpal Jatav was shot dead in Fareedpur village, police said.
Later, in retaliation, Dalits attacked houses of people belonging to the upper caste, in which two persons-- Balbir Singh and Om Prakash -- were killed.
A violent mob damaged police vehicles, and a woman police constable and an inspector were injured in stoning.
Four seriously injured persons were rushed to a government hospital.
Narrating the incident, local residents said, on Monday a Dalit girl went to a field owned by a Thakur to cut sugarcane. During quarrel, a youth belonging to Thakur caste allegedly molested her. On protesting, the upper caste people beat up the girl's uncle. However local police arranged a compromise.
The girl went to work on Tuesday morning to collect cowdung, and nearly 20 upper caste youths caught hold of her. They then started attacking homes of Dalit families.
When police tried to pacify the groups, stoning began. Villagers used sticks and damaged two police jeeps, injuring a woman constable Suman and a sub-inspector Srinivas.
Meanwhile, rioters shot dead Inderpal Jatav, 36, after dragging him from his shop. In retaliation, Dalit youths shot dead Balbir Thakur, 45. A third person, Omprakash, 48, died on way to Jatia Hospital in Khurja.
Local residents alleged that the police instead of taking stern action wasted time in pacifying the groups leading to more violence.
