Hazaribagh, May 11: Violent protests by villagers left a block development officer (BDO) injured today, forcing the police to fire 10 rounds to control the rampaging mob.

The incident took place at 5:30pm on Hazaribagh-Giridih road near Singhani.

According to superintendent of police Pankaj Kamboj, trouble started when the police refused to hand over to the villagers two friends of a boy who died under mysterious circumstances this evening.

According to sources, three boys — Baban Yadav, Subodh and Raju were seen together this afternoon. The three were close friends. Soon afterwards it was reported that Baban had died. Police recovered the body from a river in Sitagarha and detained Raju and Subodh for questioning. The two told the police that they went to the river to bathe, where Baban drowned.

As news of Baban’s death spread, villagers poured on to the highway raising slogans against Raju and Subodh who they said were responsible for the death. Policemen led by officer-in-charge of Muffasil police station, Vinod Kumar Singh and BDO Santosh Singh soon reached the spot and tried to pacify the villagers.

However, the villagers were in no mood to listen and vented their ire by damaging a police jeep and bike. BDO Singh was injured as the mob pelted stones. Sensing that the situation was going out of control, the police fired in the air to disperse the mob.