160 protesters booked after Patiala lathicharge sparks political uproar

Patiala: A day after Punjab Police lathicharged protesting apprentice linemen outside the headquarters of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in Patiala, the incident triggered a political storm across the state, with opposition parties continue to condemn the AAP govt and demanding accountability. Police registered a case against more than 160 protesters, including 12 identified, under sections of BNS, and on Saturday released 11 detained protesters after the protesters agreed not to block both sides of the road and PSPCL gates.The incident occurred on Friday (June 5) when members of the 2600 Apprentice Lineman Union, who staged a sit-in for five days demanding preference in recruitment of ALM, were forcibly dispersed by police. The flashpoint came when protesters allegedly blocked Gate No. 2 of the PSPCL office near Sheranwala Gate on Friday. Police said they made repeated requests to clear the entrance as hundreds of employees remained locked inside, but protesters refused to comply.DSP City-1, Patiala, Sanjeev Singla said police carried out the lathicharge and disperse the protesters gathered outside Sheranwala Gate PSPCL as the employees were held captive inside following blockade. He said that several requests were turned down by the protestors following which no other option was left than to disperse them.DSP Singla confirmed that an FIR had been registered against the protesters under charges including assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, adding that three policemen were also injured in the incident. Police said the case was also registered under BNS sections pertaining to rioting and unlawful assembly. Over 160 protesters were booked, 12 identified and over 150 unidentified. Around 11 of those detained were later released after union members agreed not to block both sides of the road and the gates of PSPCL, said DSP Singla.On Saturday, Rajya Sabha MP and Vice Chairperson of the Central Apprenticeship Council Vikramjit Singh Sahney condemned the police action and offered to facilitate placement of all 2,600 apprentices in Punjab's industrial sector in electrical and technical roles through his NGO, Sun Foundation. He also urged the Punjab govt to prioritise these trained apprentices against the nearly 6,000 vacant posts recently announced by PSPCL. He said these opportunities can be provided in job roles such as Electrical Operations Technician, Maintenance Electrician, Utility & Facilities Electrician, Plant Electrician and other allied technical positions, ensuring that no skilled youth remains unemployed. He said demands of these apprentices are both genuine and justified, the purpose of apprenticeship is to equip youth with industry-ready skills and facilitate their employment. Noting that PSPCL has recently announced recruitment against nearly 6,000 vacant posts, he urged the Punjab Government and PSPCL to give priority to these trained apprentices for permanent jobs.The political fallout was immediate and wide-ranging after the lathicharge as Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said brutally beating ITI-qualified apprenticeship youth for demanding jobs "exposes the reality behind the Bhagwant Mann government's tall claims."Senior Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday termed it an "attack on the dignity of Punjab's youth" and demanded disciplinary action against officials who ordered the operation. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, condemning the action on X, asked chief minister Bhagwant Mann why he was "not keeping his word — doing just fake propaganda and selling lies while youth are being served lathis for demanding rightful jobs."On Saturday, BJP Punjab Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur visited the injured at Government Rajindra Hospital and announced she would submit a memorandum to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria seeking action against responsible officials. She alleged efforts were being made to discharge the injured hastily under administrative pressure to shield those responsible.The protesters vowed to intensify their agitation until their demands were addressed. PSPCL Director Commercial HK Trehan could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.The apprentices, most of whom are ITI-trained linemen undergoing apprenticeship with PSPCL, alleged the state govt and PSPCL management repeatedly failed to honour written assurances regarding their absorption under a 35 per cent reserved quota for assistant lineman posts. Their grievances deepened after a PSPCL recruitment notification for assistant lineman vacancies was also cancelled.