A protest march taken out in Namchi, Sikkim, sparked violence in the hill town on Monday afternoon after some protesters pelted stones and bottles at police, injuring some law enforcers.

The police retaliated and charged at the protesters with batons and teargas shells to disperse them.

Protesters from a number of political parties and social organisations congregated in Namchi in protest of the allegedly tardy probe into the death of 21-year-old student leader Padam Gurung.

Gurung, the president of the students’ representative council at the Namchi Government College, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on June 28 this year.

His death led to protests from several quarters. Gurung's family members alleged that he had been murdered. The police constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the death. But as protests continued in Sikkim, chief minister P.S. Tamang announced a judicial inquiry into the death last month.

However, the protesters continued to say they were unhappy over the progress of the investigations. Hence, Monday's march was organised as a nudge to speed up the investigation, protesters said.

During the march, protesters shouted slogans against the police and the state government and demanded a CBI probe into Gurung's death.

However, the protesters' altercation with the police occurred over the rally’s route.

After some initial jostling, a section of protesters started throwing stones and bottles at the police.

The police initially retreated but soon charged at the protesters with batons and teargas shells to disperse them. Later, the police made some arrests, said sources.

In the afternoon, the Namchi subdivisional magistrate clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC in the central park area located in the heart of the town and a 200-metre area around it.

Police are patrolling the area, said sources.