Bhubaneswar, Sept. 11: Police officers today demanded the arrest of senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for allegedly inciting violence during the September 6 rally here in which a woman cop was injured.

They also sought an apology from Tytler and threatened not to be a part of his security cover during his visit to the state.

“Tytler had openly instigated the Congressmen to break the law and march towards the Assembly. The rallyists not only broke the barricade, but also beat up several policemen, including women constable Pramila Padhi,” said president of Odisha Police Havildar, Constable and Sepoys Confederation Padmanabha Behera.

Behera, who led a delegation that met home secretary U.N. Behera at the Odisha secretariat today, said they urged the government to arrest Tytler since he had incited his party men to take the law into their hands.

“The home secretary had assured us that he will examine the matter and take appropriate action,” he said

“We will not provide security to Tytler during his visit to the state unless he tenders apology to the people of Odisha and the victims of the violence,” said the confederation president.

Behera said women police were deployed on the rally site to protect the women agitators. But they were assaulted by the rallyists and few of them, including Padhi, were severely injured.

State Pradesh Congress Committee Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik said that Congress had decided to gherao the Assembly. “But we did not incite violence. If the government has the guts, let them arrest me and Tytler,” he said.

Health minister and BJD vice-president Damodar Rout said the government should initiate legal action against Tytler and Patnaik, who had made provocative speeches.

The police have registered eight cases against Congress leaders and activists for their involvement in the violence, while Mahila Congress leaders have lodged 14 complaints against the deputy commissioner of police and other police officials at Mahila police station and another two complaints at the Capital police station, alleging police excesses.

Former state Mahila Congress president Asima Mahananda met chairperson of National Commission for Women Mamata Sharma today and sought her intervention. Sharma said she would depute a team to investigation into the alleged police excesses.