Police have cordoned an area in Plekhanovo, a village in Russia's Tula region, after members of the local Roma community protested against the prevention of illegal tapping into the village's gas pipeline, local news website Myslo reported Thursday.
Illegal connections to the pipeline caused damage that left 700 homes without gas, reported the Tula regional police website. The protestors attempted to disrupt repairs by burning tires and throwing stones at police and journalists, Myslo reported.
Around 500 police officers were on the ground to maintain law and order and enable workmen to carry out repairs safely, Myslo reported. Officers were supposed to talk to the residents, who claimed that they were denied legal access to the pipeline.
During the clashes four people were detained and charged with police disobedience, police reported.
