2 killed as railway police open fire on train

Two persons were killed and three injured when the railway police opened fire on a passenger train near Chakradharpur on Tuesday.

The police resorted to firing to disperse a group of unruly commuters.

The trouble started when about 40 timber merchants tried to load wood in the compartments at Bhalulata railway station. The other passengers opposed and asked the railway police to intervene.

The enraged merchants pelted stones at the police party injuring three railway police personnel. In retaliation, the police fired in the air. When the situation got out of control, the police opened fire at the protestors.

One passenger, said to be a railway employee, was killed on the spot. Another person succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

UNI