Patiala police cane charges protesters marching to Capt Amarinder’s residence; many injured

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 7

Patiala Police on Sunday cane charged members of the Punjab and UT Mulazam Sangarsh Morcha near the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s residence.

The police had to use force when the protesters tried to force their way to the Chief Minister’s residence.

Besides, many union leaders were detained by the police and taken to police stations outside the city.

After holding a sit-in outside the PSPCL office, the protesters took their protest towards the Chief Minister residence. However, heavy police, deployed at YPS Chowk, stopped them from marching ahead.

After a minor scuffle broke out between the police and the protesters, the police resorted to lathi charge. Over a dozen protesters received injuries. One of the union members is also believed to have suffered a fracture on his hand.

The members of the morcha were out on the streets for their long-pending demands —disbursement of DA instalments of government employees, introduction of old pension scheme, regularisation of contractual employees, implementation of the sixth pay commission report and minimum wages for ASHA facilitators and midday meal workers.

Davinder Punia, convener, Punjab and UT Mulazam Sangarsh Morcha, said: “Lathi charge on women is the government’s gift to them on International Women’s Day. The government has backtracked almost on all their pre-poll promises.”

Another protester said: “The government has failed to provide jobs to youth and are out to abolish the already existing posts in various departments, including the Department of Education, as well.”