Halwais lathi-charged

CHANDIGARH, Jan 6: The police resorted to a mild lathi-charge on the protesting halwais and bread makers from Punjab in the city8217;s Sector 17 today. The action followed after the protesters resorted to slogan shouting when the Punjab Finance Minister reportedly did not give an audience to the delegation of the halwais which had went to meet him.

Thousands of halwais, bread makers and bakery owners from the entire state, who had assembled here to protest against the Punjab Government8217;s decision on five per cent cess on their products despite inclement weather, were earlier dissuaded by the police while they were on their way to Punjab Secretariat from Sector 17 parade ground. They were finally dispersed by the police when they allegedly tried to gherao the main bus stand after coming back from the secretariat empty handed with none paying heed to their representation.

The spokesman of Halwais, Bread Makers and Bakery Owners Union, Sudesh Vij alleged that the police damaged the posters and placards which the protesters were holding, broke the window panes of vehicles parked near the parade ground and and, later, took to lathi-charge to scare them away. 8220;We were on a totally peaceful mission to press for our demand. The police high-handedness is objectionable8221;, he said, adding the union would shortly launch a 8220;jail bharo aandolan8217; on the issue against the attitude of the Punjab government.

The Police have, however, denied the lathi-charge. 8220; We had just dispersed the protesters as a preventive measure 8217;, said an officer at the concerned police station.