3 youths held for beating cops

In a shocking incident, the Worli police arrested three youngsters and detained another minor for assaulting and abusing six police personnel. Those arrested include a 20-year-old girl who allegedly beat up an assistant police inspector and three women constables.

Those arrested have been identified as Gauri Bhide (20), Chirag Bothra (21), and Kapil Rathod (21), all residents of Chembur. The name of the minor, aged 17, has been withheld.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 1.20 am on Thursday morning. Bhide, Bothra, Rathod and the teenager stepped out for a late night drive in the former’s father’s car.

With Bhide, who did not have a driving licence, at the wheel the youngsters first went to Worli seaface where they spent some time. On the way back, Bhide lost control of the vehicle and rammed the car into the divider near Sadanand Hotel. The car landed up on the footpath.

When passers-by noticed the vehicle, they rushed to help but instead were met with an allegedly abusive and angry group of youngsters. “While none of the youngsters were injured, they started abusing the men who jumped to their aid. They even tried to hit one of them, but the men resisted,” said an officer.

A women’s emergency patrol vehicle, which was passing by, had noticed the scene of chaos and decided to investigate. “The vehicle had a woman constable and an assistant police inspector. When they reached the youngsters, the girl started assaulting them too. In fact she pushed and kicked ASI Patil, who is 55 years old,” said Vinay Kulkarni, senior inspector, Worli police station.

The boys, Bothra and Rathod, also got involved in the fight and allegedly abused the police too. “They were then brought to the police station, but this did not deter them. They continued abusing us and we had to bring in extra officers to control them,” Mr Kulkarni said.

Sources said the youngsters had attacked six police personnel. “There were two sub-inspectors and one assistant inspector and three women constables. All of them were assaulted and abused by the three youngsters,” another officer said.

Officials added that when taken inside the police station, the girl did not cease pushing everybody in her way. “She pulled out the wire connected to a computer system, causing it to fall and the socket to break,” said an officer.

The police who arrested the three said that they have been booked for various offences. “We have booked the girl for drunk driving and causing damage to public property,” said Mr Kulkarni.