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PUNE, Oct 22: Agitated over the alleged highhandedness of the police who were on a patrol duty near Mhatre bridge at Dattwadi for the las...

PUNE, Oct 22: Agitated over the alleged highhandedness of the police who were on a patrol duty near Mhatre bridge at Dattwadi for the last couple of days, over 200 people staged a rasta roko, seeking an inquiry against them.

The agitators alleged that the police were in an ineberiated state which apparently seemed to be the immediate provocation for their staging a road blockade for over three hours.

Five policemen led by police sub-inspector V B Boyne, besides a traffic warden identified as Phadke, were on patrol duty in a police van under the directives of the police control near Mhatre bridge in the Vishrambaug police station limits. The other constables included V S Lohare, R R Kamble, R M Kakade and the driver was identified as Bajal.

The Vishrambaug police while assuring the agitators that a probe will be initiated against the policemen, sent all of them to Sassoon hospital for a medical examination. The medical reports were not available till late evening.

The residents had alleged that two policemen including PSI Boyne were in a drunken state, but medical examination of all the policemen was being conducted, police officials said.

It all began around 3 pm when the people allegedly found the policemen in a drunken state. Over the last two days the policemen had allegedly been harassing vehicle owners and recovering fines from them for which no receipts were being given. According to social worker Mihir Thatte, the policemen had yesterday beaten up a youth who was riding a scooter. The traffic warden who was with the policemen was also reportedly demanding money from the vehicle owners.

Nearly 200 persons squatted on the road and prevented the police van from moving. Raising slogans against the policemen, they demanded that an immediate inquiry be conducted in the case. Assistant police commissioner Makarand Ranade who reached the site pacified the agitators by assuring that an enquiry would be conducted as demanded.

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The agitators submitted a memorandum alleging highhandedness by the policemen. The Vishrambaug police will be meeting the complainants tomorrow. Police inspector Mohan Nalavade is investigating.