The agricultural labour and trade unions on Wednesday held a massive protest outside the Sangrur residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is currently on campaign trail in Gujarat ahead of the state assembly elections there.

The police had to resort to lathi-charge to stop the protestors from marching towards the Chief Minister’s rented accommodation in Dreamland Colony on Patiala road.

It was only after the protestors were given an assurance of meeting with the Chief Minister—scheduled for December 21, the protestors called off their protest, as of now. At the same time, the labourers made it clear that they would intensify their protest in case the Government failed to fulfill their long-pending demands.

Protesting under the banner of Sanjha Mazdoor Morcha — a joint front of eight labour unions, the protestors demanded an increase of minimum daily wages to Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA), implementing five-marla plot schemes for Dalits, and allotment of the third part of common panchayat land on lease to the community.

Besides, they were also demanding amendment in law to solve the problem of reserved lands from village common lands, 33 per cent representation of Dalits in village cooperative societies, cancellation of FIRs registered against ZPSC members for protests and debt to Dalits without guarantee.

Even as the police denied using force or cane-charging the labourers, the protestors claimed that their 22 members have been injured.

Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba denied any cane-charge saying that both sides pushed each other as cops tried to prevent labourers from reaching in front of CM residence. “There was no cane charge as cops only tried to stop labourers from reaching near CM residence. Cops have also suffered injuries,” the SSP said.

“The police tried to stop us with big barricades, trucks, and other means when we started marching towards the Chief Minister’s house as per our announced programme. They used force on us,” said a Union member.

In the video clips that surfaced on the social media, Sangrur Superintendent of Police (SP) Manpreet Singh was seen using force on the protestors. He was caught hitting the protestors in videos, and also directing other cops.