Ludhiana: A protest against contract-based hiring at Ludhiana’s Zone D Municipal Corporation office spiralled into chaos on Monday, as members of the Rashtriya Safai Karamchari Mahasangh clashed with police, allegedly damaged property, and left several injured.The high-voltage standoff unfolded at around 10:30am when union members, led by Punjab president Vicky Sahota, attempted to lock the Sarabha Nagar-based office in defiance of Election Commission restrictions on gatherings. Protesters were demanding an end to the contractual hiring system for sanitation workers and had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to authorities last week.Despite warnings from police stationed at the office, the demonstrators raised slogans and attempted to breach the main gate. Zonal commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon tried to intervene, but the situation escalated when some agitators allegedly shoved him and broke the glass panels at the entrance.In response, law enforcement pushed the crowd back to prevent further disruption. During the scuffle, minor injuries were reported on both sides. Additional personnel from Police Station Division No. 5 were called to the scene, and six individuals, including Sahota, were detained.Municipal Corporation Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Chaudhary confirmed the arrests and said a formal investigation is underway.Employees and visitors at the office were left shaken by the ruckus, which disrupted official work and highlighted rising tensions over civic recruitment policies in the lead-up to the by-elections. MSID:: 121413991 413 |
