Mohali: Employees and representatives of various organizations staged a protest outside Powercom XEN office in Zirakpur on Monday and condemned the alleged lathicharge on unemployed apprentice workers in Patiala.The protesters burnt effigies of the Punjab government and raised slogans, expressing anger over the use of force against youths who were looking for permanent jobs after completing ITI apprenticeship training.Speakers alleged that the employees were holding a peaceful protest outside the Powercom headquarters when police used force to disperse them, injuring several youths and women. He said that some injured have been admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.The protesters described the action as undemocratic, accusing the government of ignoring employment demands and instead resorting to force.They demanded an impartial investigation into the incident, action against those responsible and a transparent recruitment mechanism for trainee employees. Warning of violent agitation, he said that the government should engage in talks instead of taking action against the protesters.

T’Puram: Labor Minister Bindu Krishna on Monday said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been directed to ensure timely completion of the ongoing NH 66 development works in Kollam.After inspecting various construction sites along the highway corridor, the minister announced that drainage channels will be constructed to prevent waterlogging on stretches of NH 66, where flooding and poor storm water management was observed during the ongoing widening works.Addressing the concerns raised by residents and traders, Krishna said the closed Kallumthazham Road would be reopened within a month to facilitate highway construction activities. NHAI officials told the minister that the ongoing work on the railway overbridge would be completed within the same time frame.The minister said that once the road reopens, the traffic restrictions currently in place will be removed. He assured the public that any lapse or delay in the implementation of the project will be addressed through appropriate follow-up action.He said that a high-level review meeting involving elected representatives would be convened soon to monitor the progress of the highway works.