6 Railways workers hurt in police baton-charge

LAHORE - At least six railway workers were injured, two of them seriously, as the railway police wielded batons on them while they were protesting against the termination of 143 TLA employees here at the Lahore Railway Station on Tuesday. Dozens of railway workers staged a strong protest demonstration under the aegis of Railway Workers Union against the top management for sacking their 143 colleagues. They blocked the road and set the tyres on fire. The protesters also chanted slogans against the top officials for sacking railway employees. Heavy contingents of railway police reached the spot and wielded to batons on the protesters. The police also fired tear-gas shells to disperse the protesters. The protesters got infuriated and also pelted the police with stones, triggering daylight clash at the railway station. The Mughalpura railway police arrested 10 protesters during the clash. Six railway workers sustained severe injuries during the clashes and were rushed to different hospitals. The condition of Asif Awan and Ghulam Rasool was stated to be critical at the Services Hospital. Talking to reporters, secretary general Fazal Wahid said that they would continue their protest against the railway management till all the sacked TLA employees are reinstated. Meanwhile, GM Railway and DS Workshop visited the Services Hospital and ordered an inquiry against SP Ahmed Mukhtar for torturing the railway workers.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt