Punjab Police cane-charge apprentice linemen in Patiala

The police on Friday resorted to a cane-charge to disperse the apprentice linemen who were protesting outside the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited headquarters in Patiala. The protesters were demanding regular appointments by the power utility. Their protest had been continuing for the past two months.

Hundreds of apprentice linemen had gathered outside the Powercom headquarters. They staged a sit-in, leading to a traffic jam.

They alleged that the Powercom management had been delaying their recruitment despite repeated assurances.

Many protesters sustained injuries during the police action. At least, 10 of them reported to the local government hospital. A policeman received an injury on his finger. The protesters alleged that many of them were dragged away by the police. Surinder Singh, state president of their union, accused the police of using excessive force despite the protest being peaceful.

Fateh Singh, another protester, said many of them were detained by the police.

DSP City(1) Sanjeev Singla said the police had registered an FIR against the protesters for use of “assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty”. He said a policeman was injured in the incident. “We resorted to cane-charge on the orders of the Duty Magistrate,” he added.

Superintendent of Police (City) Palwinder Cheema said the protesters had “locked both gates” of the office and held common people and power corporation officials hostage for more than four hours, leaving them with "no choice". “Minimal force was used to scatter the protesters,” he claimed.

Cong condemns action

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday condemned the use of force against the apprentice linemen in Patiala, saying visuals emerging from it were “horrible and bone-chilling”.

“Remember, these are the signs of an imminent doom of the (AAP) government. It reminds of the British era police beating up our freedom fighters,” he added while expressing shock over the incident. Warring said the incident won’t be forgiven.