Two incidents of violent clashes between two groups at two separate locations in Jharkhand’s Palamu district late Monday night during the immersion of Lakshmi and Kali idols, have left six cops injured and police vehicles were damaged.

In response, in one incident police fired four rounds into the air in self-defence to disperse the mob and control the situation.

The first incident took place in Raksaha village under the Rehala police station area, where a dispute erupted between two groups during Lakshmi Puja over the use of a DJ and other issues.

Having received information about it, a police team from Rehala police station rushed and reached the spot and attempted to silence two groups. Minutes later, the situation escalated when a mob allegedly surrounded the police personnel and attacked them with bricks and stones.

Four police personnel sustained injuries in the stone-pelting, while a police vehicle was also damaged.This prompted the police to open fire in the air,
said Rehala police station in-charge Gulshan Birua.” We fired four rounds in self defence.”

An FIR was registered under several sections of the law on. Police are investigating the identities of those involved and the circumstances that led to the clash. Some villagers were also reportedly injured in the incident.

As per a report of the news agency IANS, the second incident occurred in Sinduria village under Lahalhe Panchayat in Palamu Sadar block, where two groups clashed during the immersion procession of Goddess Kali idols.

Inquiry revealed that a dispute over an issue between the groups soon escalated into physical violence and stone-pelting. Members of both groups allegedly threw stones at each other, leaving several villagers injured.

Police personnel who reached the spot were also injured in the stone-pelting, while the glass of a police vehicle was damaged in the attack.

Soon after the incident, Sadar SDPO Rajesh Yadav and Satbarwa police station in-charge Pradeep Kumar reached the village along with additional police personnel.

According to a report,the Satbarwa police said that the situation was brought under control after a dispute broke out between local residents.

Police are ascertaining the number of injured persons and investigating the actual cause of the clash.

On Tuesday morning, the law and order in both areas of Palamau is reportedly under control. Security has been tightened, and a group of police and civil personnel have been deployed in the affected villages as a precautionary measure to prevent any further escalation.

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