Traders cane charged, gherao police station
Hundreds of traders associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gheraoed the Hasanganj police station on Thursday, after police allegedly beat up around 12 traders for disrupting rescue of child labourers under ‘Operation Smile’.
Under this operation, child labourers working in shops are rescued and enrolled in school.
The protestors were demanding suspension of the cops who used force on traders, including BJP city unit vice president Ghanshyam Agarwal.
The gherao lasted for around six hours till senior superintendent of police (SSP), Deepak Kumar assured them of a proper inquiry into the incident and subsequent action.
Earlier, the traders offered resistance when police, child welfare committee members and some NGOs rescued at least 16 child labourers working in shops in the Daliganj market.
The SSP said the traders initially protest but agreed to talks when cops invited them to the police station.
He said nearly 12 traders allegedly blocked the way of the vehicles carrying the child labourers after reaching the police station.
He said the police used mild force when the traders did not allow the vehicles to go.
The issue was resolved with the intervention of local BJP MLA Neeraj Vohra and other local leaders.
He said SP North Anurag Vats had been asked to probe the incident and send the report within a week.
Stern action would be taken against the cops if they were found guilty, he said.