Hundreds of people who wanted to join India's police force have been rioting in Northern India. The riots began because many thought the written test was too hard. It took more than an hour to bring the riots under control. Damian Grammaticas, BBC, Delhi:

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As they left the police headquarters in Ghaziabad, several hundred angry applicants began stopping cars and buses on the highway, breaking windows and demanding lifts. Passengers were forced from their vehicles, including several women who were hauled out and sexually assaulted. The mob of would-be police officers then ran out of control along a five kilometre section of the main highway to Delhi, smashing fences, looting food from kiosks and beating up shopkeepers.

Security forces baton-charged the rioters to restore order. Almost thirty people were arrested. Uttar Pradesh police say they have how obtained still photographs and film of the riots and are busy identifying those responsible so their applications to join the police can be rejected.

The disturbances come just as India's government is trying to reform the country's police services. Most Indians have little faith in their police, viewing them as lazy, corrupt and inefficient. The riots will do little to change that perception.

Damian Grammaticas, BBC South Asia Correspondent, Delhi

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hopefuls
people who wanted their applications to be successful so that they could become police officers

lifts
free rides in cars that other people were driving

hauled out
forcefully, agressively pulled out of their cars

The mob
The large, noisy, angry group of people

would-be police officers
people who wanted to become members of the police force

looting food from kiosks
stealing large amounts of food from small, open huts or stalls, causing damage

baton-charged
used their short, thick heavy sticks to push back and control the crowd (batons are a type of weapon often used by police)

to reform
to make changes for the better

corrupt
using their position of power to dishonestly and illegally gain money and favours

perception
view, belief, what is understood

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