Five killed in riot over monsoon aid
From correspondents in Patna, India
17aug04
POLICE in eastern India shot at about 500 rioting villagers who were demanding more government assistance amid devastating monsoon flooding, killing five people, officials said today.
Officers opened fire after the protesters ransacked a railway station and threw stones at relief officials and police in Lohna village, 130km northeast of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, said A N Jha, commandant of the Railway Protection Force.
The villagers claimed that the relief provided to flood victims by state authorities was inadequate.
They were demanding more food, tents and medicine, Mr Jha said.
State officials were distributing food and other items to the flood victims at the railroad station when they were attacked.
Four villagers and one state official were killed.
Three police and a government official were injured after being hit by stones.
Bihar state has been badly hit by monsoon floods, which has claimed 698 lives since June.