Chandigarh: A day after Barnala DSP Satbir Singh was suspended over allegations of ordering a lathi charge on protesting sanitation workers, City-1 SHO Inspector Lakhwinder Singh has been transferred to the district Police Lines.
The action comes amid mounting pressure from sanitation workers, who have warned of a statewide agitation from Monday if their demands are not met.
The protesters are demanding the dismissal of both the DSP and the SHO, registration of criminal cases against all police personnel allegedly involved in the lathi charge, and the inclusion of provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case.
The issue has also drawn political attention, with opposition parties extending support to the protesting workers.
Senior Congress leaders, including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and MLAs Rana Gurjeet Singh, Pargat Singh, and Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon, are scheduled to visit Barnala to meet the sanitation workers and express solidarity with their protest.
Leaders of sanitation workers’ unions from across Punjab are also expected to assemble in Barnala to discuss their future course of action, including the proposed statewide agitation.
The confrontation on Wednesday left 18 sanitation workers and four police personnel injured. The workers were protesting near S.D. College over garbage collection arrangements when police allegedly resorted to a lathi charge.
According to the protesters, another round of force was used after demonstrators gathered at Handiaya Bazaar and allegedly threw garbage at police personnel.
The sanitation workers had already been on strike, demanding regularisation of their services, leading to the accumulation of garbage across the city. At least 12 workers were admitted to hospital, with some alleging that the police had not recorded their statements.
