Police lathicharge garment workers protesting PF amendment

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Bengaluru, Apr 18, 2016, PTI: Police today resorted to a ‘mild’ lathicharge to control a ‘mob’ of garment factory workers which pelted stones injuring four police personnel during their protest against an amendment to the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.

The protest resulted in a traffic jam near Bommanahalli on Hosur road for a few hours with several ambulances stuck.

Protesting garment employees expressed fear that the new rule would take away their right over the employer’s contribution portion of PF till they attain 58 years age.

“We want full PF money, not only our part. Several of us will need it to fulfil our aspirations like owning a house and several other things,” a protesting employee said.

Police said they had to use force to control the mob that went unruly and pelted stones.

“After I appealed to the people, they started moving. All of a sudden male garment workers started throwing stones at police vehicles. Police vehicles got damaged, constables sustained injuries, four of them are admitted in hospital,” Additional Commissioner of Police (East-Bengaluru City) P Harishekaran said.

He said the law and order situation forced police to resort to a mild lathi charge on the “unruly mob”.

Harishekaran also sustained a minor injury to his hand during the incident.

Slow moving traffic was reported along the stretch which leads to city’s IT corridor, Electronics City.


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