Thousands of halwais, bread makers and bakery owners from the entire state, who had assembled here to protest against the Punjab Government's decision on five per cent cess on their products despite inclement weather, were earlier dissuaded by the police while they were on their way to Punjab Secretariat from Sector 17 parade ground. They were finally dispersed by the police when they allegedly tried to gherao the main bus stand after coming back from the secretariat empty handed with none paying heed to their representation.

The spokesman of Halwais, Bread Makers and Bakery Owners Union, Sudesh Vij alleged that the police damaged the posters and placards which the protesters were holding, broke the window panes of vehicles parked near the parade ground and and, later, took to lathi-charge to scare them away. ``We were on a totally peaceful mission to press for our demand. The police high-handedness is objectionable'', he said, adding the union would shortly launch a ``jail bharo aandolan' on the issue against the attitude of the Punjab government.

The Police have, however, denied the lathi-charge. `` We had just dispersed the protesters as a preventive measure `', said an officer at the concerned police station.