Medical students brave police heat

Mumbai, May 13 (UNI) Medical students braved police batons here today while protesting against reservations in medical colleges.

Several students were taken into custody by the police for '' unlawful assembly near the Raj Bhavan and for obstructing traffic''.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who holds the Home portfoilio, has ordered inquiry into the police lathicharge and sought report within a week.

The peaceful protest turned unruly when police used force to break open students' cordon obstructing traffic. A few girl medicos suffered injuries during the melee.

Senior Inspector Madukar Sanke of Malabar Hill police station said, ''the students tried to break barricades around the Raj Bhawan. Being a VIP area falling under section 144 of Cr. P C banning assembly of five or more people), I personally intervened and requested them to move back but they obstructed the traffic. And I had no option but resort to a mild lathicharge''.

''If it was a peaceful protest, the students should have courted arrests. On the contrary, they resisted arrests and kept provoking the police,'' added Mr Sanke.

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