Itahari, October 21:

Agitating workers of the Reliance Spinning Mills and the police clashed in Sunsari, leaving at

least 45 persons injured within the past 24 hours.

A team of the Armed Police Force (APF) raided the workers’ residential colony at 11:00 pm last night, resulting in clashes. Around five policemen were also injured in the scuffle.

Irked over the mid-night raid, the workers staged demonstration in Khanar, leading to clashes till this morning. They vandalised the main entrance gate of the mills and cut off telephone lines this morning.

During the clash, the police lobbed seven tear gas shells and resorted to baton-charge to control mob. The police also vandalised 13 houses of locals for giving protection to the workers. The situation remained tense throughout the day today.

The workers had launched an agitation four days ago, demanding pay hike. “Though the row had ended yesterday morning, the management did not live up to its commitment,” the workers alleged.

The police said a group of workers vandalised 12 vehicles including five ambulances and seven buses, trucks and motorbikes. Five policemen, including Ananda Mandal, Chandra Nepali, head constable Birkha Shrestha, were injured in the clashes. All the injured workers are being treated in Koshi Medical Hall.

Sunsari SP Yadav Raj Khanal said the factory management, labour leaders, political parties and civil society were holding talks to resolve the problem.