Cong workers protest fuel price hike, canecharged

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 25

Some Congress leaders and activists, including Ravneet Singh Bittu, local MP, were today injured as the police allegedly used force to disperse them as they went on the rampage outside the mini secretariat.

The activists were protesting fuel price hike and levy on power tariff.

Over 150 protesters, including District Congress Committee president Gurpreet Singh Goggi and Mahila Congress president Leena Taparia, were rounded up, but were released later.

MLAs Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Rakesh Panday and Surinder Dawar also participated in the protest.

The confrontation took place when the activists led by Bittu marched towards mini secretariat to lock the gate of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The police reportedly resorted to lathicharge to prevent them from locking the gate.

Bittu jumped over two barricades, but was overpowered by policemen. He was allegedly hit on the face by a police official in the process. When the protesters failed to lock the gate, some of them locked the rear door.

The activists, including Bittu, were arrested and taken to the police station. They were later rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Bittu said: “We were protesting the anti-people policies of the state government, especially the increase in VAT on petrol and diesel and levy on power tariff.”

Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, ADCP (crime), denied having resorted to lathicharge. “Around 150 protesters were rounded up when they broke two police barricades put up to stop their entry,” he said, adding that the MP was immediately released and others were also released in batches.

Ashu alleged besides the leaders, nearly 15 persons were injured in the lathicharge.

Bittu alleged the state was being ruled by anti-social elements with the support of the Akali Dal.

“My grandfather Beant Singh laid down his life to restore peace in the state. I inherited the same values. We will not allow the Badals to loot the people of the state,” said Bittu.

Showing his injury marks, Joginder Pal Singh Bedi, state chairman of Beopar Cell, said the police assaulted Congress workers at the behest the ruling SAD-BJP government.