Trader claims he was thrashed by cops; probe on

Police today said they are looking into allegations made by a local trader that he was thrashed by cops.
The trader, Rohit Bothra, who is also President of Chandrapur Chamber of Commerce, has alleged he was beaten up by police personnel last night.
According to Bothra, he was travelling in a car when a group of people, dressed in 'T' shirts and jeans, waved at him and asked to stop the vehicle near Ordinance Factory Gate in Bhadrawati at about 10:30 PM.
As the persons appeared "suspicious", Bothra said he decided not to heed to their order and continued driving. When he realised he was being followed in a 'Sumo' vehicle he drove with more speed.

After driving more than 28km, he decided to go straight to Ramnagar Police Station to report the matter. As he reached there, Bothra said he was dragged out of the car and beaten up mercilessly by policemen, who were in civil dress. He was then taken to Traffic Police office, where he was again allegedly thrashed.
When contacted, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pralhad Giri said Bothra should have stopped his car when he was asked to do so by the police, who he said were patrolling in Sumo. But he kept on increasing his speed giving scope for suspicion to police on patrol duty.

What Bothra has said are mere allegations and police are looking into them, he said.
The incident has angered the local trading community which announced a bandh on Wednesday but later withdrew the call following intervention of Superintendent of Police Sandeep Diwan.
This afternoon, the community members convened a meeting, where they condemned the police "atrocity" on Bothra and demanded suspension or disciplinary action against the erring personnel.