Tribal youths assaulted by police in Maha, alleges villagers

Residents of Milgulwancha village in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district have alleged that five tribal youths were beaten by local police suspecting them of aiding Naxals in the area.
Police said the matter will be investigated and assured action against the guilty.
In a written complaint addressed to district collector, the villagers under Bhamragad tehsil charged that some Kothi and Nargunda police personnel visited them on May 16 and asked some of them to be present at Kothi police assistance centre the next day for interrogation in connection with a suspected murder of a police constable.
"We have received the complaint which is addressed to district collector. We are forwarding it to the collectorate," Bhamragad tehsildar A D Yerche told PTI.

Villagers alleged that police personnel while returning on their way intercepted one Peka Pungati, who was working in a field and took him to Nargunda police assistance centre. Seeing him, others also followed till the centre where Peka and another youth, Chukku were thrashed by the police.
After three youths -- Kishor Durwa, Sarju Pungati and Amar Naroti -- were also manhandled, they alleged in the letter.

Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil told PTI that the matter will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken against the guilty.
According to villagers, the police charged the youths of assisting Naxals and also threatened to kill them.

Health of Chukku is said to be deteriorating due to severe injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital here, they said.
According to villagers, some of the youths are studying in Ashram schools and had come to their homes during vacations.