Police at the incident site in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | Photo Credit: ANI

Key Highlights The government had announced a complete lockdown across the country on March 24 for 21 days The lockdown was imposed to combat the rising threat of deadly coronavirus outbreak

Aligarh: In yet another incident of attack on police, a group of people hurled stones at a police team in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh when it advised them not to offer group namaz in a mosque on Thursday. Three people have been arrested in the matter and an investigation is underway.

While speaking to media, Circle Officer Pankaj Srivastava said, "These people gathered at a mosque in Bannadevi area to offer namaz. Police reached there and tried to explain to them that it is not advisable to perform community prayers when a coronavirus lockdown is in place. But the people did not heed to the advice and pelted stones at police."

#Breaking | Locals attack cops in Aligarh for objecting to group namaz in a mosque. pic.twitter.com/XvBitTS1gX — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 3, 2020

He went on to add, "The police personal had to leave the place as the public got violent. A larger team of police then reached the spot and made the people understand that violence will be strictly dealt with. Three persons have been arrested in connection with the attack."

Earlier on Wednesday, a Sub-Inspector and a Constable of Uttar Pradesh Police were seriously injured when a police team trying to enforce the ongoing lockdown was attacked by group of villagers in Muzaffarnagar.

The police team was on patrol in Morna village when they saw locals gathered outside in groups. When they were asked to follow the prohibitory orders, they began pelting stones at the police and some of them even attacked the cops with iron rods, said a police personnel.

Two policemen, a sub-inspector and a constable, received serious injuries in the attack and were rushed to the district hospital. Three villagers and a former village head have been arrested.

‘Police is dedicatedly engaged to make lockdown successful. Police were doing its work with full fidelity when the attack happened. Strict actions will be taken against the attackers,’ SSP Abhishek Yadav said.