Press Trust Of India
Bhopal, Nov 20: Police Monday fired teargas shells and used lathi charge to bring under control a group of Pardi community members who were protesting the suicide of a woman.
The protesters allegedly threw stones at the Gandhinagar police station here. Nobody was injured in the lathi-charge, police said. Bhopal Inspector General of Police Jaideep Prasad said that an inquiry has been ordered into Monday’s incident as well as the allegation against three policemen that they were responsible for the woman’s suicide.
As of now there was no evidence to suggest that these policemen abetted the suicide, the IG said.
According to the protesters, Indermal Bai (35), member of the Pardi tribe, immolated herself after pouring kerosene in front of policemen Sandeep, Jadav and Gajraj when they went to her place Friday and threatened to frame her up in a false case if she didn’t pay them Rs 20,000.
She died Sunday night, her mother Surja Bai said.
Members of the Pardi tribe living in Gandhinagar area Monday gathered at the police station to protest her death where they allegedly indulged in stone-pelting.
The IG claimed that the deceased woman hadn’t stated in her dying declaration that she was being harassed by police.
Asked why the three policemen visited her house Friday, Prasad said they were looking for her brothers.
“In the past, police had recovered some weapons from them,” he said.
