18 army officers held for attacks on police

At least 18 army officers involved in attacks on police personnel and a police station here have been arrested, police said Thursday.

"We have arrested 18 lieutenants from among the more than 150 army officers involved in the incidents yesterday (Wednesday)," Deputy Commissioner of Police Hemrajsingh Rajput told IANS.

They have been charged with assault, rioting, illegal confinement, preventing government servants from doing duty, as well as damaging and destroying government property.

Rajput said all those involved in the two incidents were officers and lieutenants from the nearby Deolali Camp's School of Artillery.

The assault on police personnel and the Upanagar police station had shaken the Maharashtra police establishment.

A detailed report was submitted to the director general of police in Mumbai. The defence ministry has ordered a court of inquiry.

Late Tuesday, a lieutenant, Ashish Bagul, who was on leave, and a relative, Jayant Narad, attacked some policemen over a parking row, police said.

They were also upset about the delay in lodging a police complaint.

While Lt. Bagul was handed over to the army authorities Wednesday morning with a request that action be taken against him, the other man was produced before a court, Rajput said.

The second incident took place Wednesday afternoon when a large group of young officers from the Deolali camp stormed the Upanagar police station.

In an apparent retaliatory move, around 150 of them, wearing track suits and helmets, assaulted several police personnel and damaged the premises, leaving it looking like a war zone.

At least two women constables sustained grievous injuries. One policewoman, Namrata Desai, who heads the station, was confined and locked up in a room.

Police driver C. Gangurde was beaten up and underwent critical surgery late Wednesday. His condition was reported to be stable Thursday.