By IANS
Bhopal : Hundreds of contract workers in Madhya Pradesh demanding regularisation of their jobs were baton charged by the police Monday as they tried to march up to state assembly.
Nearly 400 electric meter readers, on contract with the state electricity board, marched up to the state assembly to meet their legislators and to press for their demands.
The police stopped them for violating the orders prohibiting assembly of five or more people, and when they refused to disperse assaulted them with batons. Two workers were injured, and five others were arrested.
“Two of our colleagues have been seriously injured and five taken into custody. We were neither demonstrating nor holding any rally. Then why this arresting and lathi (baton) charge?” asked Anil Nath, state president Madhya Pradesh Meter Vachak Sangh.
Nath said more than 4,000 meter readers working on contract in the state have been demanding permanent jobs for the past seven years.