Protesters block NH-24 to protest police action outside Ghaziabad banks

Police on Tuesday baton-charged people outside Ghaziabad banks as they protested non-availability of sufficient cash, leading to blocking of a national highway in the district.

People queued outside ICICI and Punjab National Bank branches here shouted slogans when officials said all the cash lying with them had been disbursed. Police used force to control the protesters.

Later, the protesters organised a sit-in on National Highway 24 at Dasna town in Ghaziabad district to protest the police action.

Police again used force to restore traffic on the national highway, but protesters later parked oxen-driven carts and tractors on the highway and held another sit-in.

The angry protesters raised slogans against police and the central government.

After about an hour, police officials managed to convince the protesters not to create traffic snarls on the national highway.

Though the protesters removed the carts and tractors from the road, they continued to sit on the highway. Police was trying to convince the protesting public to vacate the highway till the filing of the report.

In other parts of the city, a heavy rush was witnessed outside banks. Long queues formed outside the branches of ICICI, IDBI and Syndicate Bank in Raj Nagar District Centre in the city's heart. Scuffling and slogan-shouting was reported from outside Punjab National Bank and Allahabad Bank branches at Navyug Market.

"People shouted slogans earlier during the day, but the situation is now under control," Senior Superintendent of Police Salman Taj Patil said.

--IANS

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