The protest by an action committee seeking justice for eight MGNREGA workers who were killed on October 18 when a speeding car hit them along the Jakhal-Lehra road near Alisher village in Sangrur district entered its second day on Tuesday.
The driver of the Chevrolet Magnum car, identified as Pargat Singh, a resident of Raidhrana village, was arrested hours after the incident. The protesters are demanding five-marla plots for the families of the deceased, free education for their children, a waiver for outstanding loans, and ₹ 50 lakh compensation for each family. Eight workers, including six women, were killed and 12 others sustained injuries when a car ran them over. The incident took place near Alisher village, where a group of more than 20 workers enrolled under Viksit Bharat Guarantee Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (earlier called MGNREGA) were engaged in work.
Some of them were sitting along the road when a speeding car mowed them down, police said. Deputy inspector general of police, Patiala range, Kuldeep Chahal, Sangrur deputy commissioner Punamdeep Kaur and senior superintendent of police Ravjot Kaur Grewal met the protesters on Tuesday but failed to break the deadlock.
