Situation still tense after clashes on access to CME road in Pune

PUNE: The situation at Bopkhel village near here continued to be tense but under control today after clashes broke out between police and locals protesting against denial of an access road that passes through defence land housing the College of Military Engineering (CME).

A ban on assembly has been imposed in the affected area with heavy deployment of police after yesterday's stone pelting and subsequent lathi-charge on about 1000 strong mob, Bhosari police, who have registered a rioting case, said today.

Tear gas shells were also used to disperse the crowd. Police have arrested 174 people on charges of rioting. As many as 23 policemen were injured in stone pelting by the mob which tried to gatecrash the compound of CME.

The villagers claim that denial of the access road to go towards Pune city was causing them immense difficulties as it meant taking a very long route stretching over 20 kms to meet daily commuting needs.

Clarifying its position on the issue, the CME authorities have said that they had closed the road going through its premises on a Mumbai High Court directive which took into account the concerns over security of the sensitive defence zone.

A Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation official said a solution was being found out to the problem by agreeing upon an alternative route for the villagers to minimise their inconvenience.

The CME stated that despite the court order, it was allowing access to the villagers in "emergency" situations such as medical exigencies on humanitarian grounds.

Inspector Bhosale attached to Bhosari police station said the situation in the area was "peaceful".