Chandigarh: Congress in Punjab on Monday
condemned the alleged lathicharge by police officials during a
protest at Lambi village in Muktsar district here.
Police allegedly resorted to lathicharge during a protest
by members of the Paramedical Contractual Employees Union
yesterday.
During the clash, a protester, Sunita Rani, reportedly
fell unconscious and was admitted to a hospital nearby, said
state Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
"The police even followed the agitators into the houses
of local people, dragged women and other protesters out of the
houses and mercilessly beat them up," he said.
"This is a gross violation of human rights and tantamount
to curbing the fundamental right of expression of speech and a
clear attempt to muzzle the voice of the people by
intimidating them through the misuse of the police force," he
added.
The Congress claimed that yesterday`s incident showed the
"complete breakdown of law and order in Punjab" and that the
present Badal regime "is working unconstitutionally using
draconian measures to browbeat public opinion in the state."
The Congress has also called upon the Chief Justice of the
High Court, the Governor and the Human Rights commission to
take suo-moto cognigence of "brutal use of force," by the
police against unarmed peaceful agitators particularly women.
PTI
