AP: Four women health workers injured in police lathi-charge

Vizianagaram/Hyderabad, Apr 8: Police on Thursday, Apr 7 used batons to disperse women health workers who had assembled near the District Medical and Health Office (DMHO) at Vizianagaram demanding immediate resolution of their long-pending problems, including a hike in wages.

Four workers were injured in the lathi-charge. Three women Constables were injured in scuffle with the protesters, Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police Navin Gulati said.

The workers were members of "Accredited Social Health Activist", (ASHA) a band of community health workers under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

When the workers were proceeding towards DM&HO office to put forward their demands, they were stopped by the police at Mayuri junction. A scuffle broke out and police used batons to disperse the activists, according to officials.

Circle Inspector T Prasad has been placed under suspension pending inquiry following the lathi-charge, Gulati told PTI. Admitting police excess, he said four women workers were injured during the lathi-charge. They are out of danger.

"It was clear (through TV footage) that the CI overreacted. I agree he should not have used so much force against the women protesters. Keeping this in view action has been initiated against the CI," Gulati said.

He said Additional Superintendent of Police Y Prem Babu has been asked to conduct an inquiry and a report will be submitted to the DIG (Visakhapatnam range) Soumya Mishra.

Taking a serious view of the incident, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy spoke to the Vizianagaram SP over phone and directed him to initiate action against the CI.

PTI