LUCKNOW: Over a dozen candidates of a police recruitment were injured when police resorted to lathicharge to stop them from blocking Vidhan Sabha Marg on Monday morning. Later, one protester consumed rat
poison, while seven others fell sick due to
heat stroke at Eco Garden where they regrouped later for demonstration.
Scores of protesters, who claimed to have cleared written examination for post of constable in UP Police and Provincial Arms Constabulary, and fireman in
fire department in 2015, assembled outside the office of
Uttar Pradesh Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPRPB) to protest against delay in issuing appointment letters.
UPRPB officials, however, said that all vacancies have already been filled and termed claims of protesters as incorrect. When the candidates gathered outside UPRPB office on Vidhan Sabha Marg, police officials asked them to go to Eco Garden on old Jail Road, the place designated for holding protests and demonstration, but the crowd refused and started marching towards Vidhan Sabha. When the protesters did not pay heed to requests, police resorted to lathicharge in which over 12 were injured.
Police rounded up protesters and shifted them to Eco Garden, where others also regrouped for demonstration.
As some candidates made fiery speeches, one
Pradeep Kumar Yadav (28), reportedly consumed rat poison and fell unconscious while seven others fainted, leading to rumours that all had consumed poison. Yadav was rushed to Civil hospital while others were taken to Lok Bandhu hospital.
Civil hospital emergency in-charge Dr Ramesh Kumar said that Yadav had symptoms of poisoning but is stable.