Reason? The Group D staff of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s solid waste management department had gone berserk over police “high-handedness” to a colleague.

The trouble started around 7 am on Palm Avenue when a police vehicle bearing a team of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel rammed a garbage-collection handcart manned by KMC staffer Ajay Mahato.

An altercation began between the driver and Mahato during which, the latter alleged, he was manhandled.

When he demanded an apology, the RAF personnel began threatening him. He then went to the municipality office and related his tale to his colleagues, who took up cudgels on his behalf. Around 150 of them gathered on Palm Avenue near the CM’s residence and began strewing the road with garbage.

Trinamool Congress workers were present among the protestors, lending voice to the sloganeering, which went on for nearly two hours before DC (south) Rajesh Subarno intervened personally.

Following his assurances, the KMC staffers agreed to call off the agitation and clean up the mess. They then proceeded to Gariahat PS with Mahato to lodge a complaint.

While police have refused to name the RAF driver, senior officers have provided assurance that an internal inquiry will be conducted into the matter.