Mumbai:
Passersby watched in horror as fisticuffs and abuses rent the air on P D'mello Road in Mumbai on Friday morning. The two groups of men in khaki were engaged in a bitter fight.
While one team comprised the city police and traffic constables, the other was of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans.
Traffic constables Pramod Tawde, Sanjay Patil and Seelu Tahide were on duty on P D'mello Road and two CISF constables were manning the perpendicular alley leading to the Mumbai Port Trust's Orange Gate.
That's when a pow-wow ensued over the long queue of trucks awaiting entry to the port, spilling onto the main road, disrupting traffic on P D'mello Road.
The minor argument soon snowballed into a scuffle.
"That's when the CISF jawans got into the port gates and called their men," said a source who did not wish to be named. The traffic constables called for help from the police control room.
And the busy spot on P D'mello Road was transformed into a battleground with punches in the air and a barrage of abuses thrown in for good measure.
Police constable Chandrakant Shelar, who reached the spot, said, "I was trying to separate the warring parties when the CISF constables assaulted me."
Shelar is a complainant in a case registered at Sewri police station. Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Nandkumar Chougle said, "It's the height of hooliganism.
We too are a part of the police force, never behave in an unruly manner. The CISF constables, led by their Assistant Commandant Alok Joshi, beat up our constable brutally."
Senior Police Inspector Rajan Wagle said, "We have registered a case under various sections like rioting, abduction, criminal intimidation.
So far, no arrests have been made as investigations are on."
CISF Commandant Vinay Kajla said, "For now, we do not want to comment. Our investigation is on and we will soon present our side."
While one team comprised the city police and traffic constables, the other was of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans.
Traffic constables Pramod Tawde, Sanjay Patil and Seelu Tahide were on duty on P D'mello Road and two CISF constables were manning the perpendicular alley leading to the Mumbai Port Trust's Orange Gate.
That's when a pow-wow ensued over the long queue of trucks awaiting entry to the port, spilling onto the main road, disrupting traffic on P D'mello Road.
The minor argument soon snowballed into a scuffle.
"That's when the CISF jawans got into the port gates and called their men," said a source who did not wish to be named. The traffic constables called for help from the police control room.
And the busy spot on P D'mello Road was transformed into a battleground with punches in the air and a barrage of abuses thrown in for good measure.
Police constable Chandrakant Shelar, who reached the spot, said, "I was trying to separate the warring parties when the CISF constables assaulted me."
Shelar is a complainant in a case registered at Sewri police station. Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Nandkumar Chougle said, "It's the height of hooliganism.
We too are a part of the police force, never behave in an unruly manner. The CISF constables, led by their Assistant Commandant Alok Joshi, beat up our constable brutally."
Senior Police Inspector Rajan Wagle said, "We have registered a case under various sections like rioting, abduction, criminal intimidation.
So far, no arrests have been made as investigations are on."
CISF Commandant Vinay Kajla said, "For now, we do not want to comment. Our investigation is on and we will soon present our side."
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