MGNREGA protest turns tragic: One dead, 20 injured as vehicle carrying lathi-charge victims overturns near Khanna

One MGNREGA worker was killed, and around 20 others were injured after a vehicle carrying protesters returning from a demonstration, where police had earlier resorted to a lathi charge and fired tear gas shells, overturned near Bija in Punjab’s Khanna subdivision on Wednesday, officials said.

The victims were on their way back to their villages after participating in a statewide protest by MGNREGA employees and workers, who had marched towards Punjab Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond’s residence in Khanna demanding the release of pending wages, regularisation of services and other long-pending demands.

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The protest had witnessed violent scenes after police stopped the demonstrators near the minister’s residence. As protesters attempted to move past barricades, police used tear gas and later resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Several workers, including women, were injured during the police action.

Officials said the accident occurred when the protesters were returning home in a commercial utility vehicle carrying around 22 people from Ranghowal and Babija villages. According to preliminary information, the driver lost control of the vehicle after encountering an obstruction on the road, causing it to overturn.

Residents and passers-by rushed to the spot and helped rescue the injured passengers before shifting them to a nearby hospital in Payal. As the condition of several victims was found to be serious, they were later referred to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana for specialised treatment.

Police identified the deceased as Sukhdev Singh, an MGNREGA worker. He is survived by two daughters and a son, who is currently employed in Muscat.

Police teams reached the accident site soon after the incident and have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

The accident came just hours after the confrontation between MGNREGA protesters and the police in Khanna, where workers alleged that force was used against a peaceful demonstration. The day’s events have intensified concerns over the safety and welfare of the protesting workers, even as the injured continue to receive treatment at hospitals.