Police resort to lathicharge during Gram Sevaks rally; many injured

Bhubaneswar: Batons in their hands, police personnel were seen mercilessly beating activists Nikhil Odisha Gram Rozgar Sevak Sangh (NOGRSS) during a lathicharge at Master Canteen Square here today.

The incident of police excess on people began following a scuffle between the protestors and the cops. Over 20 activists sustained injuries on their hands and back as they were thrashed black and blue by the cops.

According to sources, the activists took out a mass rally demanding regularisation of their jobs. They also shouted various anti-government slogans during their protest. The main road was blocked for an hour due to the rally. Later, a heated argument exchanged between the GRS members and police personnel followed by a scuffle when the latter tried to disperse the mob.

The situation took an ugly turn when the cops resorted to lathicharge to control the crowed. While some members of the Sangh were detained by the cops, the injured activists were taken to the Capital Hospital.

The activists alleged that they have been demanding job regularization and other minimum facilities since long; however, everything has fallen on deaf ears.

"We were here to press for our demand  'equal pay for equal work'. But the cops beat us mercilessly. The state government is trying to suppress our voice. It has betrayed us by not fulfilling our long-standing demands. Over a hundred activists were lathcharged by the police," said a member of the Sangh.

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