Four policemen were injured early on Friday in Jaipur district when a mob began pelting stones at them while they were trying to remove iron railings outside a mosque, police officials said.

The incident took place at around 3 am near the bus stand area in Chomu town, which is located about 40 kilometres from Jaipur city. The police had gone there as part of an anti-encroachment action to dismantle structures that were blocking the roadway.

Officials said that tension slowly increased when the iron railings, which had been erected on the roadside outside the mosque and were encroaching on public space, were being taken down. As the police moved in to clear the encroachment, the situation became hostile and members of the crowd began throwing stones at the officers.

Because of the stone-pelting, the police had to respond with tear gas shells and mild force to control the crowd and prevent the situation from becoming worse, authorities said. At least four policemen were hit by stones and injured in the attack. They were later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to police officials.

Senior police leaders later spoke to the media about the incident. Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Agarwal said, "The situation is completely under control. Four policemen sustained injuries in stone pelting. Strict action will be taken against those taking the law into their hands."

His statement made clear that the police were confident they had brought the situation under control and that they planned to take action against the people responsible for attacking the officers.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Chomu, Usha Yadav, also spoke to reporters at the scene. She said, "Two to three others have also sustained minor injuries. All senior police officers are on the spot. Additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order."

Her comments showed that besides the four police personnel who were seriously hurt, a few others were also lightly injured during the stone-throwing. She also confirmed that senior officers were present at the location and that more police staff had been sent to ensure peace and order.

According to the police, the conflict did not begin suddenly on Friday morning. On Thursday evening, the administration spoke with members of the local community about some stones that were placed on the road outside the mosque. During that discussion, the community had agreed to remove the stones on their own, police said.

However, after the stones were removed, some people allegedly started installing iron railings outside the mosque to create a boundary. These railings were placed in such a way that they partially blocked the road. This frustrated some in the neighbourhood and led to fresh disagreements because the installation was seen as another form of encroachment onto public space.

When the police arrived on Friday morning to remove these new railings using a JCB machine, those opposed to the action began throwing stones at the officers. This sudden escalation is what led to the injuries. Seeing that the situation was becoming more serious and could lead to further violence, the police called for reinforcement. Additional police forces were rushed to the area from nearby stations, including Chomu, Harmada, Vishwakarma and Daulatpura to help control the crowd and avoid further unrest.

As a precautionary measure, authorities also suspended internet services in Chomu for 24 hours to reduce the possibility of misinformation or coordination of more violent acts through social media and messaging platforms. Police personnel have since been conducting flag marches throughout the town to reassure residents and maintain peace, officials said. Senior police officers confirmed that teams were being formed to identify and arrest those involved in the stone-pelting and violent actions.

Local residents and business owners were reported to be alarmed by the early-morning violence, but most said they hoped the situation would quickly return to normal following the strong response by law enforcement. The police have maintained that they will continue their anti-encroachment drive where needed and that everyone must follow the law peacefully.