The incident appears to have its roots in the death of two young lovers from Nava Vadgaam last December. Their bodies were found hanging from a tree in Jaamvan village, and though a case of murder was registered at first, post-mortem results and other evidence revealed that they had committed suicide and the case was suitably altered.

However, this did not dissipate the tension between the two villages, with people of Nava Vadgaam suspecting and those from Jaamvan of having killed the couple. There was also strong resentment against the police for transferring a case registered under murder into one of suicide.

On Tuesday, police officials say, a team led by PSI P S Valvi of the Uchhal police station were carrying out a prohibition raid when they received a message that a mob had gathered at Jaamvan village. On reaching there, the police team were told that the mob had returned to Nava Vadgaam. Once there, the armed mob reportedly attacked the police party. In the attack, said DySP Nakum, PSI Valvi received injuries on the head and one policeman had his rifle and 10 cartridges snatched by the crowd. The police vehicle was attacked and an attempt was made to set it on fire.