Members of Chhattisgarh Janata Congress try to gherao Assembly

Workers of Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (Jogi), on Wednesday tried to gherao Chhattisgarh Assembly while it was in session, forcing the cops to batton charge and detain several of them, including its president Ajit Jogi.

Atleast 28 people, including policemen, were injured in the incident. "Security personnel deployed in duty resorted to mild force to prevent workers of CJC (Jogi) following which they started stone pelting," Raipur Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla told PTI.

Barricades were installed at Lodhi Para chowk to stop the protestors. After they reached there, they tried to damage the barricades to cross it and when police personnel tried to stop them, they went on to stone pelting and throwing chairs on cops, he said. Later on, police had to use cane to disperse them, he added.

As many as 16 police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Pramod Gupta, were injured due to stone hurling while 12 protestors also suffered injuries in the incident, he said.

Atleast 638 CJCJ workers were arrested to control the situation during their protest, the SP said adding that they were later released unconditionally. Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, MLAs Amit Jogi and RK Rai were among the arrested. The injured have been admitted to different hospitals here, the SP added.

Meanwhile, the CJC(J) leaders have accused the police of using force on peaceful protestors.The protest was staged on various issues, including high MSP and bonus to farmers for paddy, disbursement of MNREGA payment, employment to youths, outsourcing in local jobs and others.

Demanding the resignation of Chief minister Raman Singh, Ajit Jogi said lathicharge on peaceful protestors has exposed the insensitive face of the government.