The toll in Thursday evening's violence in Mathura stood at 24, including 22 "trouble makers" and two policemen, Uttar Pradesh DGP Javed Ahmed said here on Friday. Twenty-three policemen are injured, including some seriously.
"So far 22 trouble makers have died, including one woman. Eleven died due to fire which was set by the trouble-makers. And others succumbed to their injuries," Ahmed told.
"We are sorry to inform that Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi and Station House Officer Santosh Yadav were also martyred. They laid down their lives while discharging their duties to uphold the rule of law," Ahmed told reporters.
The DGP said: "So far 23 policemen, some with grievous bullet injuries, were admitted to the hospital.I was told that the policemen were mercilessly beaten," he said.
Police also recovered 47 country-made revolvers, six rifles and 178 live cartridges from Jawaharbagh.
Ahmed said the violence was sparked off after a police team had gone to the spot to ensure peaceful eviction of encroachers as directed by the Allahabad High Court.
The DGP announced that the families of the martyred police officers will be provided with all assistance.
