World | India
India deploys police to flood-hit Bihar
India deployed hundreds of police to flood-hit Bihar on Monday, a day after soldiers opened fire on angry villagers demanding food and relief, wounding at least a dozen people.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:23 September 29, 2008
Patna: India deployed hundreds of police to flood-hit Bihar on Monday, a day after soldiers opened fire on angry villagers demanding food and relief, wounding at least a dozen people.
A huge crowd threw stones at an army convoy on Sunday, demanding food and shelter, police said.
"The villagers clashed with army personnel, threw stones at them and attacked their vehicles, forcing the army to retaliate," Kuer Singh, a senior police officer said on Monday.
Thousands of people have been displaced by the devastating monsoon rains in the area.
At least 1,500 people have died in India and Nepal and about 270 flood-related deaths have been reported from Bihar, officials said.
About 20,000 people are still marooned in the eastern state, mostly villagers who refused to be evacuated, saying they wanted to protect their belongings.
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