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Govt Lifts Curbs On PF Withdrawal After 62 Injured In Protests Across Bengaluru

Govt Lifts Curbs On PF Withdrawal After Violent Bengaluru Protests Leave 62 Injured
ANI

The government on Tuesday lifted the restrictions on Provident Fund (PF) withdrawal with immediate effect after 62 people, including 24 policemen, were injured in Bengaluru. Police had opened fire after a protest by garment workers against the government norms turned violent and spread across the city.

As protesters set vehicles parked inside the Hebbagodi police station on Hosur Road ablaze, the police opened fire. A Garvebhavipalya resident, who was not part of the protest, is said to have injured in the crossfire while an 18-year-old college student, Preethi, was hit by a bullet in her thighs.

Bengaluru:Garment factory workers protest against Govt's decision of withdrawal of provident fund, clash with Police pic.twitter.com/XxONfvzDca

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 19, 2016

A 49-year-old garment worker, Manjunath has suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung and is currently on artificial ventilation and will undergo an operation soon. However, the hospital authorities are yet to ascertain whether he got injured by a stray bullet or not.

People were protesting against the curbs imposed by the government on withdrawal of employer's contribution of PF up to the age of 58. The government had put the tighter rules for withdrawal of PF money on hold till July-end, initially. In February, the government had said PF subscribers would not be allowed to withdraw their fund after attaining the age of 54 years, but will have to wait till they are 58 years old.

The protest that started on Monday was confined to the highway at Hosur Road but on Tuesday it spread to all major highways including the Mysore Road, Bannerghatta Road and Tumkur Road. Traffic came to a standstill on all these roads as protestors blocked vehicles.

WATCH: Police use tear gas shells as protest by garment factory workers in Bengaluru turns violenthttps://t.co/mvTMWG5IyX

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 19, 2016

The police had to call in large forces to manage the protestors at major junctions of Hosur Road.

As the protestors started pelting stones at the police at Begur cross and Parappana Agrahara central jail junction, the cops had to resort to caning in which many protesters were injured. Companies were not spared by the protestors and they pelted stones at vehicles parked on Biocon campus.

Bengaluru:Garment factory workers protest against Govt's decision of withdrawal of provident fund, clash with Police pic.twitter.com/XxONfvzDca

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 19, 2016

The situation was initially brought under control following prompt police action but in the afternoon mobs gathered near Hebbagodi, about 20 kilometres away from the city, started torching vehicles, forcing the police to open fire.

City police commissioner NS Megharikh said that additional forces have been deployed and the situation in the city was under control.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.