Lavasa City securitymen, villagers clash, 56 booked

Pune, Nov 4 : Clashes broke out between the security guards of Lavasa company and the people of Dhamanval village at Lavasa City, near here, on a petty issue.

The trouble arose late last night when some of the villagers, on their way to the neighbouring Mugaon village to offer prayers to Somajibuva, a local deity, were beaten up allegedly by security guards when they (villagers) demanded diesel for their jeep, which ran out of fuel, for free, sources in Paud police station said today.

According to police, the villagers in a complaint stated that Bharat Shedge, a villager, went to a petrol pump in Lavasa City to fetch diesel when his jeep ran out of fuel. There, an altercation ensued between him and some securitymen. Soon, other guards reached the spot and allegedly beat up Shedge.

On returning to the village, he narrated the incident to other villagers. Following which, a group went to Lavasa City and questioned the security guards. But they were beaten up by the security guards and one of them fired three rounds in the air.

Over 20 villagers were seriously injured in the incident, police said.

Meanwhile, an official from Lavasa company said Shendge had entered Lavasa City in an inebriated condition and demanded diesel from the fuel station for free. When the company officials refused to oblige and offered to provide alternative transport arrangement for the villagers, the villagers continued to demand free diesel, which led to an argument between them and the staff.

The injured were admitted to Shri Krishna Hospital in Lavasa City, police said.

Following the incident, the Paud police have booked over 40 security guards of Lavasa company under various sections of the Indian Arms Act, 1959, and attempt to murder. They have also booked 16 locals of Dhamanval village for rioting under different Sections of the IPC.

--UNI

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