4 cops injured as labour groups’ dispute turns ugly
: Four policemen were injured on Tuesday when labourers pelted them with stones at the local railway station following a dispute with another group over loading of freight trains.
The incident took place when the police used mild force against a group of protesting labourers and took some of them in custody when they started shouting slogans.
Infuriated over this, the labourers hurled stones at the police who chased them.
Station house officer (SHO) Ashok Kumar said, “Four of our cops got injured. One of them got injured near forehead and his five teeth were broken. We have arrested around 30 persons, including their leader Bhola Singh.”
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had awarded a contract to a labour contractor for loading goods trains.
A rival group of labourers reportedly tried to force the contractor to get the material loaded by them, which he refused, saying he had own arrangement for this. More than 100 police personnel were deployed at the site to avoid any eventuality. The police tried to dissuade the protesters, but they did not relent.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Bikram Singh Shergill said, “We had not allowed the contractor to proceed with loading till further orders to avoid any clash between the groups. After we brought the situation under control, around 35,000 quintals of material was loaded.”
“We had told the protesters that they should resolve the issue amicably. We cannot allow any delays in loading of government material,” said Shergill.
A case was registered under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
WERE PROTESTING OVER A DISPUTE WITH ANOTHER GROUP OVER LOADING OF GOODS TRAINS; 30 LABOURERS ARRESTED