''Mild lathicharge'' deployed on protesting TNGEA members

Chennai, Feb 25 (PTI) Police today used ''mildlathicharge'' to chase away members of Tamil Nadu GovernmentEmployees Association (TNGEA) when they allegedly tried toforce their way into the new Assembly and Secretariat complexhere.

TNGEA members had been staging hunger strike near theAssembly and Secretariat complex for the past two dayspressing various demands including filling up of vacancies andaddressing pay anamolies, police said.

Today, around 400 TNGEA members tried to force theirway into the complex despite being warned against doing so and''mild lathicharge'' was used to disperse them, police added.

Some of the protestors were also taken into custody, theysaid.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) state unit secretary G Ramakrishnancondemned the use of force and said the government should holdtalks with the TNGEA.