BARNALA, July 23 -- Violent clashes broke out between striking sanitation workers and police near SD College here on Wednesday during a cleanliness drive launched by the district administration, prompting a lathicharge and the preventive detentions of four workers.

The sanitation workers in Barnala have been on strike since July 8, demanding job regularisation. With garbage piling up across the city and raising health concerns during the monsoon season, the district administration and municipal corporation launched a drive to clear the waste.

Tensions escalated when striking workers reached the site and allegedly tried to block the clean-up operation. Barnala deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Satvir Singh said protesters pelted poli...