Patiala, July 26, 2026:- Bhagwan Valmiki Seva Manch took out a protest march at Lahori Gate Chowk against the alleged police lathicharge on sanitation workers who were peacefully protesting for their long-pending demands in Barnala. The protest was led by the president of the manch, Rajesh Bagan, national executive member of Bharatiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (Bhavadhas) Naresh Kumar Nindi, district president of Bhavadhas (BHIM) Arun Dhaliwal and district president of Adi Dharam Samaj Lovely Achhoot.
During the protest, the protesters registered their protest by burning effigies of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Barnala DSP Satvir Singh Bains and SHO. On this occasion, District President of Safai Sewak Union Punjab Sunil Budlan, Shammi Saude, Vijay Sangar and President of SC-BC Employees Union Jatinder Dhariwal were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Bagan, Naresh Kumar Nindi, Arun Dhaliwal, Lovely Achhoot and Sunil Budlan expressed their protest against the Punjab government and Barnala Police administration, alleging that 19 workers, including elderly, youth and women, were seriously injured in the lathi charge by the police on the protesting sanitation workers in Barnala.
The leaders alleged that when the women went to take shelter in nearby shops and a Dharamshala to escape the police action, they were allegedly beaten up by the police personnel there too. They also alleged that some police personnel abused the sanitation workers using caste-based words.
The protesters demanded that the police officers and employees involved in this matter be immediately suspended and a case registered against them under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and an impartial investigation into the incident be conducted. On this occasion, a large number of community representatives including Mohan Lal Atwal, Rajesh Ladi, Jeevan Lal Pemi, Rajinder Mattu, Ashu Sahota, Sunny Mattu, Roshan Lal, Khush Lal, Sarvjit, Kushwinder Kalyan, Rajiv Bobby, Joni Atwal, Vinod Kumar, Jaswinder Bobby, Deepak Sangar were present.