Two police constables accused of beating a tribal to death in Madhya Pradesh have been suspended and booked for murder, the police said Thursday.
"The incident occurred late Wednesday evening in Jhabua town when the constables, Kartar Singh and Ishwarlal, who were allegedly in an inebriated state, picked up a fight with a tribal Kallu Thanwaria Medha, 40, who too was under influence of alcohol and beat him till he fell unconscious. The tribal died after he was taken home," Jhabua Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chandra Burra said.
Burra was sent to the spot to bring the situation under control after hundreds of tribals pelted stones, damaged police vehicles and staged a protest at the Raipuria police station in Jhabua following the death of Medha.
"Angry over the incident, a large crowd of villagers surrounded the Raipuria police station and staged a sit-in with the body, demanding immediate action against the accused. Additional forces were rushed to the town as the situation worsened," said Asha Mathur, Jhabua superintendent of police.
"The constables have been suspended and booked for murder. The situation is under control," she said.
Jhabua is some 350 km from Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.