Jobless linemen scuffle with cops outside Dhindsa’s house

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 1

A scuffle took place between unemployed linemen and police personnel near the residence of Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa here today. Three linemen and the wife of a protester from Moonak fell unconscious.

The incident took place when unemployed linemen and their family members tried to break the police barricade to gherao Dhindsa’s residence. The police pushed them back, resulting in a scuffle. Bhola Singh Gaggarpur (38), cashier of unemployed linemen union, and Simran (35), wife of lineman Subodh Kumar fell unconscious. They were rushed to the local Civil Hospital.

They were protesting against non-issuance of job letters to 4,000 unemployed linemen. Lovedeep of Ferozepur and Manjit Singh of Ladda village (Sangrur) were the other protesters who also fell unconscious.

Soma Singh Bharro, chief adviser of the union, alleged the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

In view of the protest, a heavy police force, including women, was deployed. Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa, tehsildar Manmohan Singh and district traffic in charge Deep Inder Singh were also present.

The DSP refuted the allegation of lathicharge.