Pharmacists of the Punjab Rural Veterinary, who attempted to use the limelight on the PCA Stadium to focus attention on their demand for regularisation, were chased away from the stadium by security guards with lathis and water cannon.
What started as a group of people shouting slogans soon turned into a violent clash between the pharmacists and the security personnel.
As many as 1,000 people, protesters and ticket-seeking fans, were dispersed by baton-wielding police after agitators started pelting stones. Even as the Pakistani team was present inside the venue, protesters demanding regularisation of their government jobs threatened to disrupt the match if their demands were not met.
Many fans hopeful of getting a ticket for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal, were also chased away by the police. The area outside the stadium has been out of bounds for the general public due to the tight security ahead of the match.
Last Friday, eight members of Rural Veterinary Pharmacist Association, Punjab; Rural Health Pharmacists' Union and Rural Health Class-IV Employees' Union climbed up the Vikas Bhawan in Sector 62 of Mohali carrying bottles of petrol, threatening to commit suicide if their demands were not met.
