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Bar owners, employees arrested on assault charge

Staff Reporter

Government officials allegedly beaten up when on inspection

PONDICHERRY: Four persons, including two French nationals, were arrested for allegedly assaulting government officials, including a revenue inspector, while on duty on Sunday evening.

The officials were allegedly beaten up when they were on inspection to ensure the implementation of model code of conduct for June 27 civic elections.

A team from the excise, revenue and police departments was attacked when they had gone to a restaurant cum bar at Kalapet as part of the inspection to ensure liquor sale did not take place after 5 p.m.

As per the guideline issued by the State Election Department liquor should not be sold after 5 p.m. from June 25 for two days in Pondicherry.

When the team found the bar open, it questioned the owner.

According to Gunasekarean, Inspector, Grand Bazar, instead of closing the bar, the owner and the employees attacked the team. Members from the Rapid Action Force, deployed for the election duty, rushed to the spot and rescued the team.

The officials who sustained minor injuries were treated in a nearby hospital. Later, the police arrested two French nationals, Rajkumar Stephen, Bhaskar, both owners of the bar and two other employees.

Several charges have been filed, including an attempt to murder, he further said.

B. Ramaskandhan, SP, North, told The Hindu that there were several complaints against the restaurant cum bar, which also have a discothèque attached to it, from the local people. Steps are being taken to cancel the permit, he said.

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