Youth Cong workers held for bid to gherao Assembly building

At least 321 workers of Youth Congresswere today arrested when they tried to lay siege to the Chhattisgarh Assembly building when the House was in session, over their various demands, including prohibition.
The Youth Congress workers marched towards the Assembly complex to gherao it, but their bid was foiled by a heavy police contingent deployed near Avanti Bai chowk area.
"At least 321 Youth Congress members, includingits state chief and MLA Umesh Patel, were arrested. However, they were later released," a district police official told PTI.
Mild force was used to stop the protesters, he added.
The Youth Congress leaders accused the police of using force despite their "peaceful" protest.

"The protest was staged particularlyin support of the demands like bonus and better minimum support price to farmers for paddy and ban on liquor in the state," Chhattisgarh Pradesh Yuva Congress president Umesh Patel said.
Alleged poor healthfacilities,unemploymentand price rise in the state were other issues raised during the protest, he added.
About 17,623 youth Congress workers were arrested during the protest and police also lathicharged on the protesters, he alleged.