Patna, Dec 27 (PTI) Police on Monday batoncharged, used water cannons and waved pistols in the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who had gathered outside the Bihar BJP headquarters here in support of their demands.

The agitators comprised a large number of women, many of them carrying babies in laps, and demanding regularisation of their jobs as panchayat ward secretaries.

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"We have been driven against the wall. Many of us have offered our services despite not getting stipends on time. The state government has added insult to injury with fresh vacancies. It is a clear signal that we are going to be eased out,” they said.

The agitators had launched a ‘dharna' at Gardani Bagh nearly a fortnight ago. Opposition leaders have, in the mean time, visited the site and expressed solidarity with their cause.

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Buoyed by the support, they on Monday gathered in front of the BJP's Birchand Patel Marg office, demanding an assurance from Samrat Chaudhary, the Panchayati Raj Minister, who belongs to the party.

It was not known whether the minister was inside while the protesters were staging the demonstration.

Tempers flared up when policemen came and asked them to leave, underscoring that no public gathering was allowed on the street.

Some of the protesters said they will proceed for the assembly premises, situated half a kilometer away.

A scuffle ensued between the protesters and police personnel, and the latter took recourse to lathicharge and water cannons.

Some members of the police contingent were seen running after the crowd, with their pistols whipped out of the holster.

However, no gunshots were fired, police officers maintained.

Normalcy was restored by the afternoon. No FIR was lodged, so far, against those involved in the "illegal demonstration".

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)