Mumbai, Aug 10 (IANS) The Maharashtra government Wednesday ordered an inquiry by a retired high court judge into the police firing on a farmers' rally in Pune district a day earlier which left at least three people dead.

At the receiving end of the opposition's ire, state Home Minister R.R. Patil informed the assembly that the probe would ascertain whether the police had used excessive force to control the farmers.

He added that the probe will also examine whether opposition parties had played any role in instigating the farmers.

Patil assured the assembly members that the inquiry report will be submitted to the government within three months.

At least three people were killed Tuesday in Bahuri village in Pune district when police opened fire at thousands of farmers who blocked highways and turned violent to protest government takeover of their lands for laying a drinking water pipeline for Pune city.

At least eight protesters and 35 police personnel were injured in the violence and protests that paralysed the old Mumbai-Pune highway and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.