Lathicharge, Tear Gases And Air Firing On Striking Workers In Bhivadi, Alwar, Rajasthan
Translation : Sushmita Verma, Mumbai
29 April, 2014
Source : Rajasthan Patrika
April 22 : Bhivadi/Tapkuda : In Bhivadi's Pathred Chaupanki industrial area, the workers sitting for a strike had a violent conflict with the police who came to move them from the site of resistance. Brutal Lathicharge was done on striking workers at Sriram Pistons factory in Bhiwadi, Alwar yesterday at 5am by 2000 policemen on 'court orders'. 10 round of firing, 30 tear gas shells bombing by the police was supplemented with 200 bouncers attacking with knives and lathis. 70 workers have been hospitalized, 4 with serious injuries, 26 workers arrested on attempt to murder charges.
The police, in order to drive the workers away from the site, fired in the air, and lathicharged the workers. In this incident around 150 people got injured. During the entire incident the angry people blew away three vehicles lying there. After the situation came under control, the injured people were admitted to Alwar's and Bhivadi's hospital.
As many as 2000 employees pf SriRampiston are on a strike since 11 days in succession. On Saturday, early morning around 4 30 am, police force reached the company campus and started lathi charge onh the workers sitting there for protest, in order to drive them away. The workers were taken aback by this behavior and started pelting stones in retaliation. The confrontation between the workers and the police force took a violent turn. The police, in order to disperse the crowd started firing in the air, Because of the lathicharge and air firing, more than 150 workers, employees and policemen got injured. During the entire conflict, some people standing outside set fire to four vehicles standing outside. After the incident the police force has been deployed in huge numbers outside the company premises. More than forty people are seriously injured. The company's amangement has refused to make any statements on the same. District Collector Mahaveer Prasad Swami and Senior Police official Vikas Kumar reached the site and Swami said that there will be negotitations done now.
This entire episode has taken place without any warning . Since it was earlyu morning, many employees and workers were sleeping , even they were not warned or given time to vacate the site. Force was used discreetly to move them from the site. Of the 2000 employees currently employed in the company as many as 1600 were on strike since 15th April for their demands. The representative of the employees Mahesh Kumar had stated that in the last few days 22 employees were expelled out of the company and that the workers were demanding from the company to take them back. He also said that the employees should be allowed to form a union. An employee named Akhilesh is severely hurt in the stomach region because of the bullets. Anil, Mahesndra, Narottan, Sunil and Yadram were few among the many seriously injured.
At the same time Bhivadi DSP Vipin Kumar has stated that there were court orders for vacating the company premises. He added that when police started their work, the employees acted as an impediment to the process, then police used force.
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