Councillor beaten up

A councillor was allegedly beaten today by civic body staff after an argument and he was admitted to hospital in serious condition, officials said.
The civic body staff (safai karamcharis), however, alleged that councillors had attacked them and boycotted work.
Cases have been registered against both parties in this regard, police said.
Varanasi Mayor Ram Gopal Mohle said councillor in Navabganj area, Anil Sharma, and others visited a civic body official, Mahendra Yadav, demanding why garbage was not being picked up from his area.
The issue turned into a heated argument, and the civic body staff members entered into a scuffle with the councillors, Mohle said.

Sharma was seriously injured, whereas the other councillors managed to escape, he said.
The safai karamcharis have refused to pick up garbage in protest, he said.