Police cane-charge agitating RTC workers

HYDERABAD: Police resorted to mild lathicharge on RTC workers when they tried to prevent the former from arresting their leaders, who were staging a dharna at the Jubilee bus stand protesting against the decision of the National Mazdoor Union to call off the strike.Terming it as a unilateral decision by some leaders, Telangana NMU Forum leaders staged a protest and burnt NMU leaders Mahamood and Nageshwara Rao in effigies.Speaking on the occasion, Telangana NMU forum leaders E Aswathama Reddy, TJAC convener Kodandaram, RTC TJAC leader Naveen Patel alleged that some NMU leaders with the support of Seemandhra leaders were trying to fizzle out the strike.Meanwhile police reached the place and arrested the agitating leaders.RTC employees, however, tried to block the police vehicles in which their leaders were being shifted. Police tried to clear the agitators and heated arguments ensued between the two groups. As the employees refused to budge, police caned them leading to injuries to some of the employees. Kodandaram and others were shifted to Bowenpally police station but were later let off.