Man burnt alive for objecting to assault on woman

Bhopal: A police official's son who objected to molestation of a woman at a Garba (traditional dance) programme was burnt to death yesterday by a mob in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district, the police said.

The dispute arose on Tuesday night when Vishal, 27, objected to the molestation of a woman from his Balai community by people of the Patidar community.

Vishal was the son of Dashrath Singh, a town inspector attached with the Human Rights Commission at Bhopal.

Members of Patidar community who had gathered for "Durga Visarjan" (Durga's idol immersion) programme yesterday morning reached Vishal's house in Karnawat village and started throwing stones.

On this, Vishal opened fire on the mob with a gun. But he was caught and set on fire, where he died on the spot, according to police.

Under control

The mob also torched several houses belonging to the Balai community besides setting on fire a sports utility vehicle and four motorcycles.

"The situation is now tense but under control," the Dewas Police Superintendent Mayank Jain told IANS.