UPSRTC employees to stage 24 hr 'chakka jam'

Lucknow, Feb 5 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) employees, who were protesting over privatisation of the organisation outside the state headquarters in Wazeerganj area here today, decided to go for a 24 hour 'chakka-jam' against police firing on them.

''Employees were peacefully demonstrating for their demands, when police resorted to firing,'' UPSRTC union president Ramji Tripathi told UNI.

At least 100 workers have suffered injuries and three were missing since then, he added.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh state workers union, other state level committees along with political parties like SP, BJP, Congress, RLD and others had condemned the police action.

The employees were staging demonstration outside the UPSRTC office against privatisation and for fulfillment of their other demands.

They had resorted to stone pelting and firing during the protest, besides vandalising the office property.

To control the situation, firstly, the police used water canons.

However, on finding the situation out of control, the policemen resorted to lathicharge and firing.

Posse of police has been garrisoned to avert any fresh violence in the area.

SP acting state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav said '' the police action against the roadways employees is unfair, as the latter were doing 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 has termed the police action as a move against democracy.

Meanwhile, State Workers Union had joined the UPSRTC employees for strike to protest the police action and had announced closure of all government offices for tomorrow.

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