Mansa (Punjab): Protesting family members of unemployed linemen, mostly women, who raised anti-government slogans at a recent function addressed by union minister of food processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, were dragged and gagged by policemen.
The protesters have alleged that policemen used foul language and misbehaved with them before women police personnel arrived. Children were injured when their mothers were dragged and clothes of some of the women protesters were torn in the brawl. The administration had already received a hint of the linemen’s plans and, as a last ditch effort, had begun a meeting with the leaders of the union to persuade them not to spoil the function. They had even identified some of them and sent them out of the venue. The police had not registered any case against Amandeep Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Virpal Kaur, Kiranjit Kaur, Gurjant Singh, Balwinder Singh, Antar Singh and Baljinder Singh who had been rounded up.
However, this wasn't the only protest that marred the function. A group of SAD leaders, led by Bhikhi Market Committee chairman Baldev Singh, staged a walkout complaining they were not given due respect by the organisers. They were coaxed by the police to return to the venue.
