Loni arson: 150 booked for rioting

Ghaziabad: As many as 150 people were booked today on rioting and attempt to murder charges in Loni town here, a day after a mob clashed with police while protesting against an alleged rape attempt on a minor girl.

Prohibitory orders remained in force while personnel of Rapid Action Force, PAC and civil police kept a vigil in the town. Senior Superintendent of Police, Dharmendra Yadav, who is camping at Loni police station, said the situation was normal and under control. The 150 unknown persons have been booked under Sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder) 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC and Section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act, said Loni SHO Gorakh Nath Yadav. Protests erupted after police booked a 60-year-old man, Sher Mohammad, under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code (Assault or criminal force with intent to outrage a woman`s modesty) and POCSO Act for allegedly trying to rape a minor girl on the evening of August 17. The mob took to the streets yesterday demanding a case against the accused. They blocked the Delhi-Saharanpur road and burnt tyres and damaged some vehicles near a bus stand in Sangam Vihar, sources said. Police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the mob with the agitators also engaging in stone pelting. Police fired shots in the air and also fired rubber bullets to quell the protest.