Police fires on agitating UPSRTC employees, strike called

Lucknow, Feb 5 (UNI) At least 20 agitators were injured today when police resorted to firing on rampaging mob of UPSRTC employees, protesting against the privatisation of the transport corporation.

The employees were agitating outside the state headquarters in the Wazeerganj area here against the UPSRTC's privatisation and for the fulfillment of their other demands.

The mob had vandalised office property and was indulging in stone pelting and even firing.

Initially, the police used water canons but on finding the situation out of control, it resorted to lathi-charge and firing.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent fresh violence from breaking out.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress have condemned the police action on the agitating employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

SP acting state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav said, '' the police action against the roadways employees is unfair, as they were holding a peaceful demonstration...the state government always tries to supress the agitators and my party will continue to oppose this.'' Uttar Pradesh Congress Commitee (UPCC) president Rita Bahuguna Joshi described the police action as a move against democracy.

Meanwhile, UPSRTC employees across the state went on strike this evening in protest against the police action.

There were reports that the police used sophisticated fire arms, including AK-47, to quell the demonstrators, However, the police has refused the allegation.

UNI JAS MB RSC VC1907