Four persons died and several injured including two police officers in clashes in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

At least four persons were killed and more than six others injured in police firing in Hazaribagh district on Saturday, when protesters clashed with police. Two senior police officers, including an additional superintendent of police were also injured.

Hazaribagh police said that the protesters were killed when police opened fire in self-defence. Tension prevailed in the district after the incident. Additional police force was deployed at the place of violence.

THE ARREST OF MLA

The incident took place after police arrested Congress MLA from Barkagaon, Nirmala Devi early this morning. The Congress MLA was arrested for leading a protest, what she termed as 'kafan satyagrah' against a coal mining project in Hazaribagh.

Police had imposed section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting assembly of more than four persons at one place in the area. The Congress leader defied the prohibitory orders.

THE ASSAULT BY MOB

As the news of Nirmala Devi's arrest spread, her supporters started gathering around at Dandi Kala under Bakragaon police station. According to police a mob of around 100 people, who attacked the police convoy taking the Congress MLA to police station.

The protesters forcibly freed Nirmala Devi and abducted Additional SP (Operations) and the circle officer of Bakragaon, police said. The two officers were allegedly assaulted by the protesters after taking them to a nearby field.

Police maintained that it opened fire in self-defence as the protesters had turned violent. The injured officers were shifted to Ranchi for treatment.

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