One of the two cops suspended in connection with the lynching of two priests and their driver said he has been made a scapegoat even though he tried his best to protect the trio from the armed locals. It was a 2,500-strong mob against 35 policemen, Kashinath Choudhary, a local leader in Palghar district, who accompanied the officers on Thursday night, told mid-day. The police, however, said there were 450 people.

During his service in the Maharashtra Police department, sub-inspector Sudhir Katare was posted at Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district, but he never faced a situation like this there. The mob was armed with sickles, stones, catapults, iron and bamboo rods and axes, said Katare, who along with Assistant Police Inspector Anandrao Kale were suspended on Monday.