Truck owners and Sesa workers clash physically, 10 injured
VISHANT VAZE, BICHOLIM | 05 January 2016 22:38 IST
The ongoing strike of mining truck owners took an ugly turn today when they clashed with around 400 workers of Sesa Goa in Bicholim, resulting into physical clash and causing minor injuries on both the sides.
Around 75 mining truck owners broke the human chain formed by around 400 mining worker to stop transportation of iron ore in four trucks.
It all started when 400 Sesa Goa workers gathered at Pilgao junction at around 1.30 pm to allow the company trucks to carry iron ore from Bicholim mine to the Sarmanos jetty.
Hearing the news, around 75 truck owners rushed to the spot while trucks reached the junction at around 3.30 pm.
Sesa Goa workers immediately formed a human chain all around the road not to allow anybody to enter the road and allow the trucks to pass.
The furious truck owners broke the chain and slept on the road, in front of the trucks.
The workers retaliated by pulling out the truck owners sleeping on the road, which resulted into physical clash.
Finally, the workers succeeded in clearing the road and allowing the trucks to proceed to the jetty.
Complaints and counter-complaints were later filed from both the sides, alleging obstruction and physical assault etc.
“We cannot allow mining to be stalled with a sword of No Work No Pay policy hanging on our heads”, said Bala Khan Gauri, leader of the Sesa Goa workers.
On the other hand, truck owner Subhash Kinalkar said they would come with more strength tomorrow to stop any movement of trucks carrying iron ore.
The truck owners are demanding high rate for transportation which Sesa Goa is not agreeing to.
All other mining lease holders are awaiting result of this strike to start their mines, which were closed by the Supreme Court order in October 2012.
Goans under national political parties will kill one another one day. Goa is RUINED under garbage BJP.