Ludhiana, July 16 -- A protest by MGNREGA employees and workers from across Punjab turned violent in Khanna on Wednesday after demonstrators alleged that police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to stop them from marching towards the residence of Punjab rural development and panchayat minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond.

The protesters, representing all 23 districts and nearly 250 blocks, had gathered at Prem Bhandari Park to press for long-pending demands, including regularisation of services, release of pending wages and implementation of employee welfare measures.

Following the rally, the protesters started marching towards the minister's residence on Amloh Road, where heavy police deployment and barricades had already bee...