Mob attacks policemen raiding liquor den in Jesar, one cop injured

Rajkot: A police team was attacked allegedly by a mob of 80 — majority of them women from a particular community— when the cops went to raid a country-liquor making unit in Pipardi village of Jesar taluka of Bhavnagar on Saturday.
The police team, led by sub-inspector D B Vaghela, fired four rounds in the air when the mob started pelting stones at them. The shots were fired by Vaghela from his service revolver.
One cop was injured during stone pelting and was shifted to Sir T hospital in Bhavnagar city. Police have booked 80 people for rioting, attempt to murder and obstructing a government employee from performing his/her duty.
According to Jesar police, four cops had gone to Pipardi on Saturday on the information that nearly 40 families of the village were allegedly involved in manufacturing of country-made liquor. They had received several complaints regarding the illegal liquor business in the village.
When the police team went to arrest the mastermind operating the liquor den, a mob — most of them women — gathered around the cops and asked them to leave. When the cops asked them not to obstruct them, the mob allegedly started throwing stones at them.
Jaypalsinh Rathod, superintendent of police Bhavnagar, said, “Police fired four rounds in the air to disburse the unruly mob. One of our men suffered head injury due to stone pelting. Many of the villagers are against these families which are brewing country-made liquor and have complained to us several times.”
The injured constable Ganpatsinh Dolanka has been admitted to Sir T hospital in Bhavnagar. Constable Kanubhai Kamavia, head constable Deepak Sakavia and Vaghela sustained minor injuries.