When police went to clear the road for traffic, they refused to lift the blockade and started hurling stones at the personnel, SP Pradeep Kumar Yadav said. The mob also vandalised police vehicles, he said

In the face of the fury, the police team took shelter at a nearby house but when the mob was about to set it on fire, they fired one round in self-defence, Yadav said

"There were several people in the house. To save those people and themselves, one round was fired in self-defence. Three villagers were injured," he said. Twenty-six people were detained in connection with the attack on the police and raids were continuing in the area, the SP said

MoS for Irrigation Sabina Yeasmin, who is the MLA of Mothabari in Malda, said she did not support firing by the police and there would be an investigation into the circumstances leading to the violence. Yeasmin also met the injured persons at the hospital

Meanwhile, Power Minister Aroop Biswas claimed. the allegations of frequent power cuts in the area are not true

"Power cuts have become a thing of the past under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," he said

Biswas said that due to objections, three towers for a 132-kv high-tension line could not be put up at Englishbazar which would have ensured a round-the-clock electricity supply to Manikchak