LABHPUR/SURI: The agitation in Birbhum against unscrupulous ration dealers again took a violent turn on Monday, with police opening fire to disperse a mob.

While a 50-year-old man died after being shot, several others were injured. The violence began after villagers gathered at the Labhpur BDO’s office to submit a memorandum against ration dealers who had been hoarding subsidised foodgrain for sale in the open market.

The office guards panicked after seeing the crowd swell to several thousand and closed the gate to keep them out. That apparently provoked the villagers, who turned violent. RAF was summoned and the firing began soon after.