The police have detained nine men for investigation into an assault on four policemen who attempted to disperse a fight between two groups involving 30 men in front of the Lebuh Pantai police station on Friday.

A police spokesman said in the 1 am incident, the four policemen were on duty at the station when they went to disperse the fight, and instead were allegedly assaulted.

He said the fight only stopped after a few other policemen arrived and apprehended nine of the suspects.

Following investigation, it was learnt that the fight broke out after members of one of the groups wanted to lodge a police report on an earlier fight involving them at Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Baru near here, but was prevented by the other group, he said.

Barat Daya district police chief Supt A. Anbalagan, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said that police were looking for others involved in the assault on the policemen.

-- BERNAMA