25 villagers hurt in police 'cane charge'

At least 25 people were injured, five of them seriously, when they were allegedly cane charged by police in Kangara village of the district, though the police has denied the incident.
The district SP said that on the contrary villagers attacked a police team on duty last night.
He said that Dy SP Vaishali Kudukar is ordered to conduct an inquiry into the charge levelled by villagers against police.
"There is no such incidence of police cane charging villagers. On the contrary, the villagers attacked a police team on duty last night," SP Sachin Patil told PTI today.
However, he did not elaborate what was the provocation.

According to villagers, police cane-charged them after pulling them out of their houses last night.

They claimed that some local women had caught a bootlegger red-handed last night and called up police to arrest him.
The villagers alleged that a scuffle ensued after police manhandled the women after reaching the village.
The injured are admitted to a local hospital.
The issue took a political turn with the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Vinod Tawde seeking dismissal of district SP and a high-level inquiry.
Meanwhile, Patil said that police have detained 50 villagers in this connection and booked seven of them under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of Indian Penal Code.

"The villagers who attacked police would be punished and those found innocent would be released soon," the SP said.
He said three police constables are placed under suspension till pending of the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gore said that she had taken up the matter with DGP Sanjeev Dayal.
"The DGP has assured that an IG-level officer would be sent to Osmanabad to visit the village and inquire into the matter," she said.
Gorhe said she would raise the issue in the upcoming monsoon session.