Hisar: An 18-day strike by sanitation workers turned tense on Sunday when municipal authorities, backed by police, moved to clear garbage piled up at ITI Chowk around 5am. Striking workers opposed the operation, prompting police to detain several protesters.A confrontation also broke out between women sanitation workers and police. Officials said the women threw garbage at police personnel and were taken to the police lines in Roadways buses.More than 3,600 tonnes of garbage has accumulated across Hisar during the strike, disrupting sanitation services and raising public health concerns.The action followed a Friday clash at ITI Chowk. Police registered an FIR against 16 named sanitation workers, including Municipal Employees’ Union Hisar unit president Surender Golu and district president Santri, besides around 100 unidentified workers.According to a municipal complaint, striking workers allegedly obstructed a joint civic-police team clearing garbage, climbed onto a JCB and pushed its driver down. Police are examining photographs and videos to identify those involved.Waste was subsequently removed from ITI Chowk under police protection.
