UNI

Karwar, Feb 23: The Karwar Rural police have registered a case of riot against 30 personnel of the Gurkha Regiment of the Army in connection with their attack on Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, Railway staff and the police here.

Police sources said four First Information Reports have been registered from the Station Master, the RPF, Circle Police Inspector and District Armed Reserve (DAR) police. Police have identified one Mahesh Karki of the Gurkha Regiment as the main culprit.

The trouble started when the railway staff objected to the Army personnel smoking in the railway station and the latter roughed them up. The RPF personnel and civil police, who had rushed to their rescue, were also attacked.

A vehicle belonging to the Karwar Naval Base, used to ferry the Armymen to the railway station, was torched by the public who also came under attack from the Army personnel.

The situation was, however, brought under control with the arrival of extra police force and all the Army personnel were taken back to the Karwar naval base, from where they were returning after a month's training.

Police denied that they opened fire in the air to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, a Defence release in Bangalore claimed that the incident was provocated by a policeman hitting an Army officer with a lathi for smoking on the railway platform.

The civilians attempted to burn a naval base vehicle which had come to the railway station to drop Naval personnel proceeding on leave, it added. An enquiry had been ordered into the incident by the Commander of Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area to ascertain the exact details, the release said.