Mob ambushes police team in MP, cop lynched, hostage killed
What's the story
In a tragic incident, a cop was killed by a mob of tribals in Madhya Pradesh's Mauganj district. The officer was part of a team that was trying to rescue a hostage, who had been murdered.
The mob killed the hostage and ambushed the police team. One cop was killed and several others received minor injuries.
Arrests made
Five individuals detained in connection with the incident
Rewa Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Saket Pandey confirmed that two people, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were killed in the attack.
However, he said other members of the police team sustained minor injuries.
In the wake of the violent incident, five people have been detained for questioning and investigation into their possible involvement.
Police had to fire shots into the air when they were surrounded by a mob, sources said.
Survivor's account
SDPO recalls the harrowing experience of tribal mob attack
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ankita Sulya, who supervised the rescue operation, recounted how she was confined in a room with the deceased hostage by the tribals.
She only found out about ASI Ramcharan Gautam's death after she was rescued herself.
This comes just days after a similar incident where an ASI was killed by a mob in Bihar while probing a case.
Mob attack
Kol tribe's abduction and murder sparks police response
The whole incident was set off when Kol tribesmen abducted Sunny Dwivedi, suspecting him of murdering another tribal Ashok Kumar months ago.
Police records showed Kumar actually died in a road accident.
After being informed about Dwivedi's abduction, a team led by Shahpur police station house officer Sandeep Bhartiya rushed to Gadra village for his rescue.
Unfortunately, he had already succumbed to severe injuries.
Security measures
Police reinforcements deployed, public order maintained
Police reinforcements have been sent to the area after their team was brutally attacked.
Mauganj Collector Ajay Shrivastava and Superintendent of Police Rachna Thakur said Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (to maintain public order and prevent disturbances) has been enforced in the region to check further violence and ensure law enforcement operations aren't disrupted.