Municipal Corporation of Haridwar workers struck work for around three hours on Monday, protesting against repeated attacks by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) jawans and police personnel and also against the authority taking no action against the attackers. late Sunday night, Nagar Nigam wood distribution team was attacked at CCR Chowk when the team members were carrying woods meant for bonfire. Team included Arun, Sumit, Satyaprakash and Omprakash Maurya.
Recounting what happened, Maurya said that NDRF jawans had stopped the Nagar Nigam vehicle at CCR Chowk and snatched the wood blocks. He also claimed that most of the jawans, about 25 in number, were in inebriated State. “We resisted, arguing that these were meant for bonfire that would serve the poor. However, they were in no mood to listen to us. They attacked us instead,” he added.
Notably, two days back, some policemen did the same. “ We, the workers, gehraoed the office of Mukhya Nagar Adhikari for no action being taken,” said an agitator. However, with the strike on, CO City Chander Mohan Singh and Mayor Manoj Garg reached the Corporation. After a prolonged discussion with CO City Haridwar, union leaders and Uttaranchal Swach Karamchari Sangh members, Singh assured that they had taken cognizance of the complaint and necessary actions will be taken in three days. The miscreants will be punished. At the same time, police protection will be provided to Corporation’s team tasked with carrying wood-blocks for bonfire, he said.
Following the assurance, the workers and other staff members resumed work. Surender Teshan, Ramesh Chander, Chanderkar Kaushal and Sunil Rajaur represented the union at the meeting. Sources added that the errant jawans have been identified and notices have been issued to them, asking for clarification.
Speaking on the matter, Vipra Trivedi, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, said such attacks on those rendering service to the people would not be brooked. “Already we have written to SSP Haridwar to provide proper police protection,” she added.