Both the sides pelted stones and police had a tough time controlling the situation. The sanitation workers have been on a strike for the past 20 days and heaps of garbage are piling up at various places in the town. The residents on Sunday tried to pump out the dirty water and clean garbage heaps on school road but the “safai sewaks” objected to it and this triggered the clash. The residents have given a call for bandh on Monday.
“Muddy water had accumulated on the road which made life miserable for the residents. The garbage heaps too had turned the town into a foul-smelling place. We only wanted to pump out the water but ?safai sewaks’ stopped us and pelted stones,” said Beopar Mandal president Mangal Sain Garg.
Safai Sewak Union members Bhim Sain and Rajinder Mandal said, “We are on strike for the past 20 days. But the residents tried to obstruct our protest. They even abused us. The residents first attacked us and we defended ourselves”.
Tapa DSP H S Virk said, “An altercation broke out between ?safai sewaks’ and activists of Beopar Mandal. The situation is now under control. No action has been taken against either side so far.”