Surat, Jan 19 : Police resorted to force to disperse a mob of irate protesters in Surat in Gujarat.

A group of diamond workers had queued outside the office of ''Surat Diamond Association'' today to get the application forms for special package announced by the Diamond Association, which offered them a waiver in the school fees of their children.

The long wait and subsequent shortage of forms angered the workers and soon erupted into a protest by them outside the office building.

The protesters shouted slogans and also pelted stones on the office building forcing the police to intervene and stop the protesters from causing any further damage.

The police also used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob of protesters.

Diamond industry in Surat, the hub of India''s diamond industry, is reeling under huge financial crisis due to global meltdown.

Fifty per cent of the world''s total diamond output and close to 60 per cent of India''s output is consumed by United States. But the present economic crunch has resulted in shortage of demand of diamonds, plunging the once- flourishing industry into economic doldrums.

The crisis has rendered many diamond workers jobless and forced the closure of many units in the city.

The special package by the Diamond Association was aimed at lessening the economical woes of the diamond workers as it entitles them to get a waiver of rupees 50 in their child''s school fees. (ANI)