Probe into police excesses, Inspector suspended

Raipur, May 26 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government has ordered a magisterial inquiry and suspended a police inspector after the 'brutal' lathi charge and police excesses on villagers, including women, during an agitation at Ajaib Nagar in Sarguja district on Thursday.

Official sources said Mr Ramakant Sharma, Town Inspector of Surajpur, had been placed under suspension pending an inquiry into the incident.

The trouble broke out in the home district of state Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam when a group of villagers were staging a demonstration demanding arrest of those involved in what they termed as murder of Vijay Deonath, a local businessman.

While the villagers maintained that he died after being assaulted by some persons, the police dismissed it saying that he had sustained injuries in an accident while he was on his way to Manendragarh.

As the villagers resorted to road blockade, police used force to disperse them and even fired in the air after the mob turned violent and indulged in stone throwing.

Later, a large number of policemen stormed the village and unleashed an attack, dragging out senior citizens, women and children from their houses and kicked them in full public view.

Though the incident took place on Thursday, the state administration swung into action after national television channels aired on Friday footage of policemen kicking an old man and pulling his hair and raining lathis on the villagers.

Meanwhile, opposition Congress demanded action against senior police officials of Sarguja district saying an Inspector alone cannot be held resposible for such a barbaric attack.

State Congress General Secretary Ramesh Varlyani said the incident clearly indicated the government had lost its grip over the police, particularly in the tribal areas.

''The government must take disciplinary action against all those responsible for the incident'', he added.

UNI