Barnala Police Inhuman Treatment to Sanitation Workers highly Condemnable: Dewan
Former President of District Congress Ludhiana (Urban) and former Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has strongly condemned the lathi-charge and what he described as inhuman treatment by the police against sanitation workers who were peacefully protesting in Barnala over their legitimate demands.
City Air News
Jul 23, 2026 04:01
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Ludhiana, July 23, 2026: Former President of District Congress Ludhiana (Urban) and former Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has strongly condemned the lathi-charge and what he described as inhuman treatment by the police against sanitation workers who were peacefully protesting in Barnala over their legitimate demands.
Dewan stated that videos circulating across various media platforms clearly indicate brutal treatment meted out to protestors, adding "The video's clearly shows that male police personnel are using batons against women protesters besides indulging in physical pushing and manhandling." He said the incident directly makes Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accountable as he also holds the Home portfolio.
Referring to a recent incident in Delhi, Dewan said that young protesters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak were also subjected to what he described as brutal police action. He alleged that a similar pattern was witnessed in Barnala, where the Punjab Police’s lathi-charge left several sanitation workers injured, with many currently undergoing treatment in different hospitals. He termed such conduct completely unacceptable and condemnable.
Dewan further alleged that employees across different parts of Punjab who are protesting for their rights and legitimate demands have repeatedly faced police excesses. He said the Aam Aadmi Party had made several promises to government employees before the last Assembly elections, but even after four and a half years in office, those promises remain unfulfilled. Instead, he asserted employees protesting peacefully are being met with police action.
Dewan demanded strict action against the police officers found responsible for the Barnala incident and called for accountability to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
