Government staff lathicharged

city police on Friday resorted to mild lathicharge after members of the Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA) created a commotion on Wallajah Road. They were attempting to gain entry into the New Secretariat campus to meet Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

About 300 TNGEA members have been staging a hunger strike for the last two days demanding that the State government should fill 1.76 lakh vacant posts in the government.

Though police tried stopping the protesters near the Government Guest house, they paid no heed and marched on. However, they were stopped near the Triplicane Police Station and assured that five of their representatives would be permitted inside to meet the chief minister.
However, association members raised objection and tried to gain entry to the Secretariat. In the melee, traffic movement on Wallajah Road was affected.
Police soon resorted to a mild lathicharge. While some employees suffered minor injuries, one had to beadmitted in the government hospital. Kumar, an armed reserve police personnel, was also hospitalised for treating a leg injury.
“The DMK government had promised in its election manifesto to fill the posts that had been lying vacant for a long time, but they failed to fulfill it,” said V Devan, former treasurer of the association.
Later, the police allowed five association members into the secretariat and they submitted their representation to the Chief Minister.
Hold talks, says Jaya: AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Friday strongly condemned the lathicharge and urged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to hold talks with the agitating government employees and resolve their issues immediately.