Police lathicharge crowd, arrest 4

Police lathicharged to disperse an angry crowd and arrested four persons after they went on a rampage and damaged the tax collection office at the Kolaghat check post and assaulted its officer on Thursday.

East Midnapore police superintendent SS Panda said the crowd had blockaded the road near Kolaghat check post for over two hours.

Trouble broke out when the policemen on duty at the check post demanded to see the tax papers from the driver of a truck, on way to Orissa from Kolkata, and allegedly demanded money though they were in order.

When the truck driver did not comply other truck drivers and the locals allegedly beat him up leading to protests.

The police weilded their sticks to disperse them and the protestors in turn blocked the road for about two hours.

At this the police lathicharged on them again and the crowd damaged the tax collection office and assaulted the officer on duty there.