18 October 2012

Shipbreakers call off strike at Alang:

After bringing work to a halt for 5 days at Asia's biggest shipbreaking yard, the shipbreakers at Alang have finally called off their strike. They have announced that the yard will start functioning normally from Thursday.

The announcement came after a meeting between the agitating shipbreakers and BJP leaders Mansukh Mandavia and Rajendrasinh Rana on Wednesday. Both these leaders are members of Parliament.

The strike was against the arrest of 3 shipbreakers in the case pertaining to death of 6 persons while dismantling an oil tanker on October 6. Those arrested included the owners of Kiran Ship Breaking Company Ram Krishna Jain and Vipin Jain along with the manager Rajesh Jugud.

The shipbreakers were and demanding that charges of culpable homicide be dropped against those arrested. "We have been assured that the shipbreakers will not be harassed in future and no such charges would be slapped against them," joint secretary of Ship Recycling Industries' Association (India) Nikhil Gupta said.

This was the first time that shipbreakers were booked and arrested under charges of culpable homicide and negligent conduct with respect to fire.

Source: Times of India. 18 October 2012
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Shipbreakers-call-off-strike-at-Alang/articleshow/16856137.cms

No comments: