DHAKA: At least 21 people including two policemen were killed during sporadic clashes between police and 3,000 members of a cult who had intruded upon a park in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (UP). 

The clash occurred as their demands including cancellation of elections for President and Prime Minister, replacement of rupee with ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ currency, and sale of 60 liters of diesel and 40 liters of petrol at Rs 1 each, Indian Express reports on Friday (June 3).

But the bizarre case of a cult-like group of nearly 2,000 protesters, who claim to be the ‘true followers of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’, took a deadly turn in Mathura on Thursday with clashes that led to the killing of two police officers, including a Superintendent of Police, and injuries to at least six policemen.

The protesters allegedly started firing on a police team that reached Jawahar Bagh to clear the area after the Allahabad High Court ordered that acres of government land be reclaimed from the Swadheen Bharat Vidhik Satyagrahi.

However, government officials and police reached the spot around 5 pm and used teargas initially before the protesters allegedly started firing back. 

BDST: 1247 HRS, June 3, 2016
SAS/AKA