Angry villagers threw stones at officers, vandalised a police station and then set it on fire in Bihar's Araria district after a man and his minor 'wife' allegedly died by suicide in custody. Two villagers were also injured in the chaos after the police opened fire in an act of self-defence.
According to information, the man married his 14-year-old sister-in-law two days ago following the death of his wife. They were brought to the police station on Thursday (May 16) afternoon after the police learnt that the man was keeping the minor at his house like his wife. A preliminary FIR was registered in the case, and they were brought in for questioning, police told media.
The duo allegedly died by suicide on Thursday evening.
Angry locals started protesting and sloganeering against the police soon after the duo were detained. Upon learning of the alleged couple's deaths in custody, the villagers alleged that the man and the woman died in police custody after being beaten up by the cops. They first threw stones and then vandalised the police station before setting it ablaze.
A CCTV video, appearing to be from inside a jail cell, showed a man climbing onto the lockup door, and hanging himself using a cloth.
After the information of the villagers' rampage spread, many senior police officers from different police stations went to the spot to bring the situation under control.
Five to six police officers were injured in the chaos, with two of them sustaining serious wounds. Police fired nearly six rounds in response, in which two people got shot in the leg and hand, respectively.
The situation is currently under control. Police said action will be taken against the culprits responsible for the chaos. Meanwhile, the case of police firing in self-defence is also being investigated. Police have so far declined to comment on the matter.
