Ranchi, Oct. 22: One person was killed and at least a dozen were injured after police opened fire to rescue seven of their colleagues who were being assaulted by a mob of 1,000 tribals that had gathered at a bus stand in Khunti to attend today's Adivasi Akrosh rally in Ranchi 60km away, in what was a disturbing rerun of the Barkagaon police firing that left four persons dead three weeks ago.

According to sources, tempers flared up after police confronted the group of tribals, who were armed with traditional weapons and waiting to board buses from Saiko in Arki block of Khunti around 12.30pm to travel 60km to Ranchi for the rally, which had been scheduled by 40 tribal outfits under the aegis of Jharkhand Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha to protest against the state government's ordinances to amend CNT and SPT acts.

Tribal leaders claimed the police were trying to prevent them from travelling to Ranchi. But, the police claimed they had to open fire to save their colleagues who were being roughed up by the mob.

DSP (headquarters) Vikas Anand Langori's bodyguard Nagendra Sharma, who was beaten up badly by the tribals, fired 15-20 rounds. One person was killed and at least four of the protesters were injured.

Later in the evening, chief minister Raghubar Das condemned the incident, saying there was no place for violence in a democracy. He also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each of the injured protesters.

At Ranchi's Morabadi grounds, as many as 10,000 tribals from across the state congregated through the morning. Leaders, among them JVM chief and former chief minister Babulal Marandi, Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Balmuchu and former ministers Geeta Shree Oraon and Bandhu Tirkey, started addressing the rally from 1pm.

They pledged to join the October 24 Opposition bandh to protest against the October 1 Barkagaon and August 29 Gola police firings. Tribal activist Dayamani Barla, who is from Torpa in Khunti district and was present at the Morabadi rally, said the BJP government in the state had imposed an emergency-like situation across Jharkhand.

"Tribals have the right to speak and work for their welfare in a democracy. Why should any government stop them from coming to Ranchi?" she told The Telegraph.

Tirkey accused the government of acting foolishly. "The way the government had clamped an unannounced Section 144 across the state to prevent tribals from attending today's rally, is indicative of its nervousness. Now, the tribals will stop the chief minister from entering villages," he said, adding that more than 300 tribals from Khunti attended today's rally in Ranchi.

Explaining the circumstances under which the police opened fire today, Khunti deputy commissioner (DC) Chandra Shekhar said ASP (operations) and six others were returning from a police camp from nearby Hoont when he stopped at Saiko upon seeing the large assembly of people.

The police team then started to check vehicles. "Many in the mob of tribals were drunk. They surrounded the police team from all sides and launched an attack. Some of the policemen were being dragged through the fields when the DSP's bodyguard opened fire in self-defence," Shekhar told The Telegraph.

He said one protester died on the spot, while all the seven policemen were injured. "We rushed to the spot with SP Anish Kumar but were stopped by villagers near Andi, around 5km from the bus stand," he added.

While bodyguard Sharma sustained injuries on the chest, head and hands, ASP (operations) Anurag Raj is said to have suffered a fracture in his arm. Arki police station in-charge Hardev Prasad, DSP Langori and at least three constables were also injured.

The deceased has been identified as Abraham Munda, who was in his fifties. Among the four injured tribals are two women - Nishi Purty (20) and Sunny Purty (30). The other two are Sugna Mundri (35) and Chamra Munda, whose age is not clear.

Khunti civil surgeon Vindo Oraon said Nishi had fractured her right arm, Sunny sustained bullet injuries in her hip and Sugna was hurt in the groin region. Chamra's injuries could not be ascertained. All the injured were sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi at 3.30pm. All were out of danger.

Khunti DC said the situation was brought under control by 5pm. Police spokespersons and IG M.S. Bhatia said Ranchi DIG R.K. Dhan, accompanied by policemen, were camping in Khunti.