Jute workers hurt in scuffle with cops

NAIHATI (North 24-Parganas): At least 16 jute mill workers were injured after police lathicharged on them during an agitation in Naihati on Sunday afternoon.
All of them were rushed to BN Bose Hospital in Barrackpore, from where four seriously injured were shifted to RG Kar Hospital.
They were protesting against indefinite closure of a local jute mill following the alleged suicide of one of its employees on Saturday.
On Saturday, Biswanath Chowdhury, a 55-year old worker of Hukumchand Jute Mill, was found hanging in his house in Naihati. The mill has remained closed since November 1. The trouble broke out when the mill authority put up a work suspension notice citing labour unrest. The closure of the mill has left 12,000 workers out of job.
The protesters claimed that Chowdhury committed suicide as he was out of job for the past three weeks.
was upset as he was out of job for the past three weeks. Hell broke loose after the news of Choudhury's suicide reached other workers.
A group of workers gathered in front of the mill's entrance on Sunday morning and started demanding its immediate reopening. They also blocked Naihati Ghoshpara Road demanding immediate release of their dues.
"The mill authority has been holding up our dues, including PF and gratuity. We launched a peaceful protest. However, police attacked us at the instigation of local politicians of the ruling party," alleged Ramdar Singh, an agitating mill worker.
Slowly the number of agitating workers grew. They sat on agitation blocking Naihati Ghoshpara Road.
A huge police force, including RAF, rushed to the spot to control the situation. A scuffle broke out as police tried to evict the agitators. Police then resorted to incriminate lathi charge to disperse the protestors injuring 16 in the process.
Police said that they were forced to resort to lathicharge as the protesters were attacking them.
"We will continue the agitation till the mill reopens," said INTUC leader Altaf Ali.
"All options of lifting the roadblock failed as the protesters started attacking us. We had no option but to resort to lathicharge. However, the situation is under control now," claimed a senior police officer.