Protests by sugar mill workers turn violent

The protestors were trying to cross the barricades to move towards the Vidhan Sabha. The protestors, hundreds in number, also hurled stones at the police, following which the latter had to use force, officers said.

The incident took place around 3.15 pm.

The police arrested Kashmir Singh Zira, chief advisor of the federation, along with 16 others as preventive action. A case was registered against federation president Karnail Singh Lakhmipur on charges of violating prohibitory orders and assaulting public servants.

The disgruntled sugar mill workers had come to the city to take out a protest march to the residence of Punjab Cooperation Minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh against what they termed as non-acceptance of their demands agreed to by the government in the past.

They threatened to burn themselves if their demands were not met, which made the police act against them, the officers said.