AITUC members hold protest over union member’s arrest

Clash at bus stand

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 6

Days after a clash between workers of two transporters at the bus stand here, activists of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Sunday held a demonstration outside the bus stand police chowki in protest against the arrest of Baldev Singh, alias Babbu, general secretary of the All Private Transport Workers Union associated with it (AITUC).

Babbu was arrested by the Division A police station in connection with the clash. Neeraj Kumar, Station House Officer of the police station, confirmed his arrest and said the police had around 10 persons from both groups who had clashed and indulged in damaging buses at the bus stand here on Thursday.

Workers of two different bus transporters had clashed over the timings of buses. They had allegedly fired a couple of gunshots leading to panic among passengers present at the bus stand. They ran helter and skelter to save themselves. The police have registered a case in this regard.

Amarjit Singh Asal, secretary, AITUC, alleged that Babbu was falsely implicated in the case as he was not present during the clash. There was no video of him indulging in the clash and damaging the buses. The police booked him on the charge of murder bid, besides other sections of the IPC.

During the protest, they raised slogans against the police for their atrocious action. Senior police officials reached the spot and interacted with the protesters. They assured them of looking into the matter and taking appropriate measures.

Amarjit Asal said they demanded a probe into this, besides not to implicate Babbu in a false case. He threatened that if the police authorities failed to take an appropriate step by October 15, they would intensify their agitation.

SHO Neeraj said they asked them to provide proof of the innocence of Babbu. If they would prove that he was not involved in the clash, suitable action would be initiated. He said Babbu was arrested on Saturday and was sent to judicial remand. He said Babbu’s name was mentioned in the FIR registered against members of both mini bus operator groups. He said five persons from each group had been arrested by the police so far.