SHILLONG: The Army authorities rejected the claim of Shillong Police that three traffic personnel were assaulted by a group of army men here at Assam Rifles on Saturday.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Defence PRO Group Captain Amit Mahajan clarified that the incident stated when a handicapped soldier Sarabjit Thapa who fractured his ankle and backbone lost his balance on the uneven road and rubbed the policemen standing close by.
“Then Policemen started beating him badly without inquiry,” Army authorities said in a press release issued here.
According to Mahajan, the regimental police of the Army unit, which was on a routine patrolling in the area, came to the site of the incident and requested the policeman to leave the handicapped soldier alone. They alleged that the policemen did not pay heed to the regimental police of the Army unit and instead forcefully took away Rifleman Kamal Gurung, who had nothing to do with the incident, but was standing close by.
Later, the Army Duty Officer, Capt Vikrant Sharma went to the Police Station and retrieved the soldier from the Police.
“Taking the strong exception to the brutal behavior meted out to its soldier, Army has protested strongly and has approached the Police authorities to take stern action against erring Policemen,” statement added.