Amidst soaring temperature, blistering wind and scorching heat, hundreds of agitated displaced launched ‘Agani (Fire) Satyagraha’ at Two Tank Garden in front of Bokaro Steel Plant’s (BSl) Administrative Building on Friday noon.
Alleging apathetic attitude of BSl Management in providing jobs and compensation to the displaced people, they launched the protest and tried to enter into building with mashaals, but were apprehended by the district police. Beside police, district administrative officials and Home Guard cops were also there to tackle any untoward incident. At least 20 agitators were arrested by the police and sent to the local police station, said Shyam Narayan Ram, SDO Chas. Earlier, the displaced group informed us about their schedule of ‘Agani Satyagrah’ and we were ready, he added.
According to the displaced people, BSl management promised earlier to solve their issues. There were several round of ‘talks’ between management and group, but they failed to solve it, said SDO. Demanding jobs displaced launched several agitations earlier includes— ‘Jal Satyagrah’, ‘Brikshawas Satyagraha’ and today, they launched ‘Agani Satyagraha’, said SDO.
Earlier in winter season, hundreds of agitated displaced youth assembled near Two-Tank Garden and step-down in lake to launch the Jal Satyagraha. Few hours’ later, condition of five protestors— Gauri Shankar, Sukhdeo lahari, Babuchand, Baburam Saw and Rajkumar Mahato, who were in neck-deep water become critical and later, rushed to the Bokaro General Hospital (BGH).
Following this, hundreds of the protestor including women launched one-day ‘Brikshawas Satyagraha’ (living on tree) protesting the indifferent attitude of management in providing the job. Protestors climb-up on a tree near Gandhi Chowak about 100 mts from the BSl’s Administrative Building to draw attention of the management towards their demand. Rising up arms against the management to provide them jobs, Nirsa MlA Arup Chatterjee along with AJSU leader Suresh Kumar joined hands with them and participated in Satyagraha, but all went in vain, said Chandrakant Kushwaha a displaced leader.
“At the time of acquiring our lands to set up plant, company had promised us to provide jobs to 24,000 identified displaced people. Now, they have failed to fulfill their promise”, he alleged.