Ballia (Uttar Pradesh), Sep 3 (IANS): Four policemen, including a senior officer, and several villagers were injured in a clash over an alleged case of custodial torture in Ballia district on Thursday.

According to reports, Panna Rajbhar, 24, was called to the Rasra police station on Wednesday for questioning over a dispute with his extended family.

As per a written complaint submitted by Rajbhar's family, he was beaten so viciously inside the police post that he had to be rushed to a government hospital. The complaint named a sub-inspector and a head constable in the case.

Soon, a large number of villagers gathered on a road and started protesting. They refused to disperse, threw stones at the police, allegedly set a police post on fire and vandalised some motorcycles.

The police resorted to lathi-charge, but the villagers outnumbered the policemen.

Visuals shot by locals showed hundreds of men and women charging at the police. Some showed the police hitting the villagers with lathis.

Superintendent of Police Ballia, Devendra Nath, told reporters, "A woman had given a room to her brother-in-law, Rajbhar, to live in her house. She had written to the police asking for help in getting the room vacated. The police post in-charge had brought Rajbhar there. Rajbhar has alleged that the police tortured him. The police post in-charge and the head constable will be questioned.

"An ASP rank official has been injured in the violence," said Devendra Nath.