Days after police action against protesting unemployed linemen who locked the entry and exit gates of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) head office, Council of Junior Engineers, PSEB (Regd.) has expressed anguish and condemned the lathicharge on agitating ITI apprentice linemen and trainees outside the PSPCL headquarters in Patiala.Speaking on the issue, Er Amandeep Jehlavi, state general secretary of the council, said engineering diploma and degree apprenticeship aspirants have also been agitating for several days and their demands remain unresolved. “If the delay continues, the situation may worsen,” he said.Meanwhile, patron Er Davinder Singh and state president of the council, Er Paramjit Singh Khattra, said the council had written to Punjab’s Power Minister stating that action by police and civil administration against unemployed ITI apprentice aspirants peacefully demonstrating for their rightful dues and livelihood opportunities is highly unacceptable.The council leadership also rejected recent unilateral amendments to Technical Services Class III Regulations, which they said have severely jeopardised career prospects of candidates who completed departmental apprenticeships. “On the other hand, legally mandated guidelines to appoint the right persons to the right posts have been ignored. This will create an unfair playing field for aspirants in direct recruitment,” Paramjit Singh said.The council urged the Power Minister to order a formal inquiry into the police action and lathicharge in Patiala and fix accountability for the excessive use of force on apprenticeship linemen protesting peacefully. It also demanded full medical treatment and financial compensation for all injured protesters, and withdrawal of FIRs registered against them without further delay.