About 20 persons, including 15 policemen, were injured in a clash after police attempted to prevent a group of people from installing a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, on a disputed piece of land in Haridwar district today, police said.
Laskar Police Station In Charge Jaidev Arya said some persons allegedly tried to install Ambedkar’s statue on some land in Laskar in an attempt to encroach it.
There is a dispute over the land between the Nagar Panchayat and another person, he said.
On receiving information, police reached the spot and tried to stop the installation. However, the mob allegedly started pelting stones at the police which in response fired shots in the air and lathicharged the crowd in order to disperse it, Arya said.
Fifteen policemen and 4-5 other persons were injured, the police official said.
Twenty-five persons, including women, were arrested following the incident, he said, adding, the situation in the village is now normal.