The recent police action against unemployed Assistant Linemen (ALMs) protesting peacefully outside PSPCL in Patiala has raised serious questions about the Punjab Government’s commitment to democratic values, youth welfare, and the right to peaceful protest. The disturbing visuals emerging from the protest site, particularly those showing a senior police officer personally assaulting demonstrators, have shocked citizens across Punjab and beyond.
A democratic government is expected to listen to the grievances of its unemployed youth, engage in dialogue, and seek constructive solutions. Instead, the unemployed Assistant Linemen, who have been demanding fair employment opportunities and fulfilment of recruitment commitments, were met with force, intimidation, and physical violence. Such actions are unacceptable in a democratic society where peaceful protest is a constitutional right.
What has particularly angered the public is the conduct of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who appeared to be personally participating in the lathi-charge against unarmed and peaceful protesters. Police officers have a responsibility to maintain law and order, not to become active participants in violence against citizens exercising their democratic rights. The footage circulating on social media raises serious concerns about abuse of authority and excessive use of force.
The unemployed youth of Punjab are already facing enormous challenges. Rising unemployment, lack of adequate job opportunities, increasing migration, and economic uncertainty have created frustration among thousands of educated young men and women. Instead of addressing these legitimate concerns, the government’s response appears to be one of suppression and coercion.
The Assistant Linemen have spent years preparing for employment opportunities in the power sector. Their demands are not unreasonable; they are asking for transparency, fairness, and the fulfillment of commitments regarding recruitment. When peaceful appeals and demonstrations are met with police batons, it sends a troubling message that dissent will not be tolerated.
The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must recognize that force cannot solve unemployment. Lathi-charges do not create jobs. Intimidation does not address the aspirations of young people. Violence against protesters only deepens public resentment and erodes trust in government institutions.
There must be an independent inquiry into the police action at Patiala. Any officer found guilty of using excessive force or violating established protocols should be held accountable. The government must also immediately open dialogue with representatives of the unemployed Assistant Linemen and work toward a fair and peaceful resolution of their demands.
Punjab’s youth are the state’s greatest asset. They deserve opportunities, respect, and a government willing to listen to their concerns. Treating unemployed young people as a law-and-order problem rather than addressing the root causes of their grievances is both unjust and counterproductive.
The images from Patiala should serve as a wake-up call. Punjab’s future cannot be built through repression. It can only be built through employment, justice, accountability, and meaningful engagement with the aspirations of its young generation.The police crackdown on the unemployed Assistant Linemen is highly condemnable and deserves criticism from all those who believe in democracy, human rights, and the dignity of Punjab’s youth.