A group of tribals from Etapalli tehsil has alleged that jawans of the special C-60 commando force of Gadchiroli police beat them up near Kasanguda in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
The tribals, who held a press conference here, said the incident took place on March 24.
Accordingly, the tribals from Basewada and some other villages had gone to the Chhattisgarh village which is across the border for bamboo-cutting work, where they camped in make-shift shacks on a riverbank.
The police, alleging that they had tipped off the Naxals about police's location, beat them up with sticks and gun-butts, not sparing even women, the tribals alleged.
Their belongings and bicycles were thrown into river, they added.
Muri Mattami, an elderly woman, was severely beaten up when she tried to save her son Vija, they said.
Some of the tribals also alleged that they were prevented from going to Gadchiroli to attend a rally organised by Bharat Jan Andolan and Adiwasi Mahasabha on March 23.
When contacted, sub-divisional police officer Datta Nalawade of Gadchiroli police said no complaint had been received with regard to the alleged incident.
