New Delhi: Clashes erupted tonight between locals and police in East Delhi with a mob torching a police booth and over half a dozen vehicles following a "rumour" of a death of a man after falling off from his scooter at a police picket.
The rioting took place in Mayur Vihar Phase-III at around 7.30 PM. Police lobbed tear gas shells and used force to disperse the crowd. Some locals and police men suffered injuries in the clash.
The violence came an hour after the man, who the police claimed was drunk, fell from his two wheeler at a vehicle checking picket when he was signalled to stop for not wearing a helmet.
Eye witnesses claimed he ignored the signal and tried to flee but a police man tried to stop him and he fell down. He was then hit by a vehicle which was behind the scooter.
Police denied the allegations.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is undergoing treatment, a senior police official said.
However, police said a "rumour" spread in the area that the victim died in the incident and enraged locals gathered near the police post and clashed with the personnel.
The mob then went on a rampage setting afire the police post and atleast seven vehicles including buses and trucks.
As the crowd continued to indulge in violence, a top Delhi Police official said that a rumour triggered the violence and the situation was brought under control soon and adequate police personnel were deployed in the locality.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, September 02, 2012, 22:42