Protesting against the assault on the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC) section in charge on Sunday, workers of the corporation went on a strike and shut down the lalkuan exit gate on Monday. The strike brought to a standstill about 700 vehicles that transport materials quarried from the Gaula river.
The protesting corporation staff warned the police that they would continue their strike till the main accused in the assault is arrested. It is estimated that the strike by UFDC staff on Monday resulted in a revenue loss of more than Rs15 lakh. According to information received, UFDC lalkuan section in charge GS Bagadwal halted a tractor for a check at the lalkuan exit gate on Sunday.
The tractor driver Bala allegedly attempted to exit with the vehicle without showing the valid papers. On being asked to present the papers, the driver allegedly beat up Bagadwal and some other corporation employees before fleeing on the tractor. The UFDC staff later reached lalkuan Kotwali and lodged a police complaint accusing Bala of violence and hampering Government work.
The corporation employees went on an indefinite strike to protest against the assault. The lalkuan Kotwali in charge Vipin Chandra Pant said that a case had been registered against the accused Bala. The police had raided various locations in search of the accused and expect to arrest him soon, added the Kotwali in charge.