Gadchiroli: Over two dozen tribals in Etapalli taluka have alleged that they were roughed up by police and kept captive in a cattle shed for a night here.
The incident took place on October 8 when the tribals, working in the fields, heard firing in the vicinity and began rushing back home following which policemen allegedly beat them and dumped them into a cattle shed, they said in a memorandum sent to Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil.
The police did not spare even women and children, they said. Also, the cops let out cattle from the sheds, which has resulted in huge destruction of crops, the tribals said.
It was only the next morning that the tribals were set free with a warning to not disclose anything or else they will be thrashed again, the memorandum further said.
Some of the tribals were treated for injuries at the Jarawandi hospital here. They have demanded stern action against erring policemen, it added.
Policemen on the other hand denied having beaten the tribals. Sub Divisional Police Officer of Aheri, Suhas Bawche, who is presently in charge of Etapalli sub division said that after an encounter with naxals some people were found escaping.
So our men enquired them on grounds of suspicion and searched some houses he, said.
