Hundreds of dismissed Uttar Pradesh policemen went on a rampage in Etwah town in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to protest against the annulment of their services by the Mayawati government.

The policemen damaged police vehicles, indulged in heavy stone pelting and burnt the effigy of Mayawati. The police had to resort to lathi charge and fire tear gas shells at the mob to disperse them.

The dismissed policemen had earlier held a dharna near the collectorate, sources said adding that they clashed with the police while returning after the programme.

Security personnel had been deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order, said police sources.

The Uttar Pradesh government has annulled the recruitment of over 18,000 police and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel made during the previous Samajwadi Party regime on charges of irregularities in their recruitment and suspended 25 senior IPS officers.