Enraged Cop Opens Fire on Mob

Furious over the sound of bursting crackers, a police officer in Bengal’s East Midnapore district allegedly opened fire on a mob leaving a man injured on Wednesday.

The incident took place in Egra when Sub divisional Police Officer Manoranjan Ghosh engaged into a heated argument with some of the local people who were celebrating Kali Puja in the area. Sources said the puja had been organized right in front of the office-cum-residence of the officer. The local people had started to burst crackers around 2am which was strongly opposed by the officer. After an argument broke out, the villagers agreed to stop bursting crackers.

But at around 6.30am a strong crowd of 300 people attacked the officer’s residence with bricks and stones. Many window glasses had been broken by the stones pelted by the villagers. Ghosh had shifted his daughter and wife to another room before coming out to control the mob. He shot a few rounds to calm the crowd and allegedly one of the bullets had hit a villager.

SP Alok Rajoria confirmed that a firing had taken place and said Ghosh’s house had been attacked by the mob. Ghosh has been transferred to the post of DSP of Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) after the incident took place. A probe has been ordered.

“A mob had gathered here and the broken window panes suggest they might have tried to attack the house. A probe has been ordered as to what actually happened and what led to the firing," said Rajoria.