The Irula tribal women complained against policemen belonging to Tirukoilur police station in Villupuram district, around 150 km from here, said a police official.

"The judicial magistrate of Tirukoilur is conducting an inquiry on the complaint," Villupuram Superintendent of Police N. Baskaran told IANS.

The magistrate began his inquiry Sunday, police officials said.

On Saturday, police received a complaint from a woman alleging sexual assault by police officials in Tirukoilur police station.

Accoridng to police, six men were picked up by Tirukoilur police for house breaking and theft.

The women alleged that eight policemen subsequently also picked up the four women, related to the men, for inquiry.

According to the women four policemen had raped them.

Police officers told IANS that the women confessed that they had lodged false complaint in order to secure the release of the men held in custody.

It may be recalled that two months back, a special court in the state had convicted 269 accused for atrocities against the Dalits and 17 for rape in what is known as Vachathi case.

A team of police and forest department personnel indulged in loot, arson and rape in Vachathi village in Dharmapuri district in June 1992.