CISF jawans lathi-charge on contract workers protesting at NTPC Ramagundam

Peddapalli: Tension prevailed at NTPC labour gate when CISF jawans lathi-charged the agitating contract workers here on Monday. About 10 workers sustained severe injuries and have been hospitalised, while 70 others received minor injuries during the lathi-charge. Contract workers of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) led by the joint action committee (JAC) organised a meeting […]

Peddapalli: Tension prevailed at NTPC labour gate when CISF jawans lathi-charged the agitating contract workers here on Monday. About 10 workers sustained severe injuries and have been hospitalised, while 70 others received minor injuries during the lathi-charge.

Contract workers of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) led by the joint action committee (JAC) organised a meeting at NTPC labour gate on Monday morning, in protest against the management’s negligence in implementation of dependent jobs, promotions to senior workers as well as ITI technicians, which were pending for the last two years.

After the meeting, they tried to move towards the gate to register their protest. However, CISF jawans prevented them from moving towards the gate. Jostling took place between workers and CISF personnel. As workers refused to withdraw their attempt, CISF jawans lathi-charged the agitating workers. Enraged over this, the agitating labourers hurled stones at CISF Jawans, following which the CISF personnel resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

About 70 workers including JAC leaders sustained injuries in the lathi-charge. While a worker Rajender sustained head injury, the hand of another labour Lingaiah was fractured. At least 10 workers suffered severe injuries and are undergoing treatment. Their condition is said to be stable and many of them were discharged after being treated as out-patients.

Learning about the incident, local police including CIs Ramesh Babu (Godavarikhani) and Laxminarayana (Ramagundam) visited the spot and brought the situation under control by convincing both the sides. They also spoke to CISF commandant and JAC leaders about the reasons which led to lathi-charge. As JAC leaders wanted to discuss only with NTPC AGM (HR), the meeting was postponed to the evening.

On the other hand, public representatives, leaders of all political parties and trade union leaders consoled the injured persons.

Condemning the lathi-charge, local MLA Korukanti Chander assured to do justice to the workers by bringing the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. He also assured to extend all support to workers.

Speaking on the occasion, the MLA said that for the first time in Ramagundam coal belt area, workers agitating for their demands in a peaceful manner were lathi-charged. It was not proper on the part of CISF to lathi-charge workers, who were agitating for the implementation of agreements entered in the year 2018. He wanted the police to register the case against CISF jawans who attacked the workers.

Former MLA and BJP district president Somarapu Satyanarayana, Congress Ramagundam constituency in-charge Makkan Singh, trade union leader Babar Saleem Pasha and others consoled the injured persons.

JAC leaders demanded the NTPC management to bear expenditure for the treatment of the injured workers and provide paid leave till they recover.