Deoria, UP, Jul 22: In an act of brazen high-handedness, police yesterday broke up a crowd of villagers sitting on dharna with a dead body by resorting to lathicharge, beat up the grieving relatives and sent the body in a cycle trolley for cremation.
The lathicharge took place in Khukhundu police station area, where a young man was shot dead in a private dispute. The villagers caught hold of one of the assailants and set fire to the Scorpio vehicle used by assailants.
This morning, the villagers with the youth's body sat on dharna on Deoria-Salempur highway blocking traffic. They were demanding Rs 20 lakh compensation and suspension of the local Station Officer.
Police first asked the villagers to disperse and then resorted to lathicharge. The policemen beat up grieving relatives sitting near the body and later sent the body in a cycle trolley for cremation.
