Ambala (Haryana), Feb 20 (IANS): The nationwide strike call given by various trade unions started on a tragic note after a Haryana Roadways employee was crushed under the wheels of a state roadways transport bus here early Wednesday.

Narinder Singh, who was a Haryana Roadways driver, was protesting near the Ambala bus depot gate when district authorities tried to ply bus services forcibly, Haryana Roadways Workers Union's Ambala district president Inder Singh Bhadana said.

He said Narinder was crushed under the wheels of a bus and the bus driver escaped from the spot in this town, about 45 km from the state capital Chandigarh.

The accident led to violence with scores of outraged roadways staff and union leaders present at the spot. The vehicles of the district administration officers and police were damaged in the violence.

Bhadana said the body of the victim would not be cremated till the state government registered a case against senior police officials and the Haryana Roadways general manager for trying to forcibly ply buses.

The workers' unions have called an all-India strike to press for demands like concrete measures to counter inflation, steps for employment generation, job security, universal social security, and ensuring that workers get a minimum wage of Rs.10,000 per month along with daily allowance.