Bikaner residents block roads to protest murder

Jaipur, June 30 (IANS) Tension prevailed in Rajasthan's Bikaner town as residents blocked roads, including National Highway 11, to demand the arrest of four men who stabbed to death a man protesting the harassment of a woman, officials said.

According to police, 30-year-old Ismail Khan had been forced out of an auto-rickshaw by four people Friday afternoon and then stabbed to death in full public view in Bikaner, some 350 km from Jaipur. The murderers then escaped from the spot.

"The four men including Tolaram, Tejuram, Bhagirath and Chhelu Singh had been involved in misbehaving with a woman a few days back. Khan had protested it following which they had developed animosity towards him. A minor scuffle between them had taken place Thursday also," said a police officer.

He added that they killed Khan due to this animosity.

As police failed to arrest these four men, the local residents blocked some roads including the National Highway-11 (Bikaner-Agra) for almost four hours. They shouted slogans against police and burnt tires.

Police pacified them and assured in the case.

"We have assured them that the accused men will be arrested soon. Teams have been rushed to various places in their search," said the officer.