Police resorted to lathicharge against 108 ambulance workers agitating in front of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) office in Sambalpur demanding unconditional release of the 358 staff arrested under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
The agitating ambulance staff also reiterated their demand for removal of private agencies engaged in the operation of ambulance services.
All the 108 ambulance staff from 27 districts had gathered here to protest against the arrest of their colleagues. They are threatening to continue their agitation till their demands are met, informed sources.
Sambalpur ASP Amarendra Rana informed that the police had tried to reason with the agitating ambulance staff but as the latter started pelting stones, police had to take immediate action against them. Two police personnel and one agitator were injured during the clash.
Nearly eight to nine agitators have been detained by the police, Earlier on January 5, police had booked 358 ambulance staff, who were staging a dharna in front of the RDC office since December 20.
