Police lathicharge CPI(M) workers; arrest leaders

Hyderabad, Apr 13 (UNI) Police lathicharged agitating CPI(M) workers when they tried to storm the Secretariat today, demanding resolution of the long-pending problems of Gram Sevaks (village servants).

Hundreds of workers, led by party state secretary and polit bureau member B V Raghavulu, converged at the Telugu Thalli statue near the Secretariat. When the workers tried to break the police cordon and rush towards the Secretariat, police lathicharged and arrested the protesters, including Mr Raghavulu.

The arrested were removed to the Gandhinagar police station.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Raghavulu alleged that as government was treating the Gram Sevaks as 'untouchables,' his party would continue the agitation till their problems were resolved.

The Gram Sevaks were demanding hike in their salaries, among other things.

UNI