Valmiki community oberves Punjab Bandh in Patiala over Barnala lathi charge

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Patiala, July 30

The impact of the Punjab Bandh called by the Valmiki community over the alleged police lathi charge on the sanitation workers in Barnala was visible in Patiala, with markets remaining closed from 9 am to 3 pm.

As part of the protest, sanitation workers organised a foot march across the city to express their anguish against the police action. The demonstration formed a part of a statewide protest demanding justice for the sanitation workers who were allegedly lathi-charged during the Barnala incident.

Sunil Kumar, President of the Sanitation Workers’ Union, District Patiala, said the treatment meted out to their colleagues was “highly unfortunate”. He stated that merely suspending the Punjab Police DSP and Inspector involved would not satisfy the sanitation workers.

He demanded that an FIR be registered against both the erring officers under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Kumar also called for a separate FIR to be lodged in connection with the alleged lathi charge on the sanitation workers.

Meanwhile, extensive police deployment was made across Patiala to maintain law and order during the shutdown and the protest march. Police personnel were stationed at key locations across the city to prevent any untoward incident during the demonstrations.

Rajesh Baggan, President of the Bhagwan Valmiki Samaj Seva Manch, Patiala, also participated in the protest.