Durg (Chhattisgarh), Aug 31 (ANI): Police in Durg district resorted to baton charge to quell an unruly protest by a bunch of youth seeking jobs at a local cement company.

Violence started when hundreds of local youth, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch (self-respect group), tried to storm the hotel where the company was holding interviews for various posts.

Police caned and chased away the unruly mob.

"Their way of protesting was against law. We asked them to protest in a lawful manner but they tried to barge into the hotel and when security personnel tried to prevent them they started bullying. In order to control them we used mild force and arrested some protestors," said M. L. Kotwani, Additional Superintendent of Police.

Protestors accused police and local authorities of colluding with the representatives of the cement company.

"The manager of the JP Group is following a discriminatry against us and local authorities and police are cane charging instead of helping us. This is an injustice and we seek clarification from the state government," said Mahesh, a protestor.

Lack of job opportunities for locals has in recent years triggered protests and even violence against outsiders in several parts of India. (ANI)