Demanding jobs at Bokaro Steel Plant, hundreds of agitated displaced youth launched ‘Agani Satyagraha’ at Birsa Chowak, Naya More here on Tuesday.
Alleging apathetic attitude of BSl Management in providing jobs and compensation to the displaced people they launched the protest and tried to jump into ‘fire’ but arrested by the district police.
DSP Bokaro Ajay Kumar took prompt action and no untoward incidents occurred.
At least 20 agitators were arrested by the police and sent to the local police station. Earlier the displaced group threatened the BSl officials about their schedule of ‘Agani Satyagrah’ and they arrested Chandrakant Kushwaha their leader, said an official.
Suddenly at noon a mob of the displaced youth led by Navin Mishra carrying kerosene and other inflammable oils rushed at Naya More and tried to immolate themselves, added the official.
According to the displaced people, BSl management promised earlier to solve their issues. There were several round of ‘talks’ between management and the people but they failed to solve it, said the official.
Demanding jobs, displaced launched several agitations earlier— ‘Jal Satyagrah’, ‘Brikshawas Satyagraha’ and on Tuesday they launched ‘Agani Satyagraha’, said SDO.
Earlier in winter, hundreds of displaced youth assembled near Two-Tank Garden and stepped-down in lake to launch the Jal Satyagraha.
Few hours later, the condition of five protestors— Gauri Shankar, Sukhdeo lahari, Babuchand, Baburam Saw and Rajkumar Mahato, who were in neck-deep water became critical and were later rushed to the Bokaro General Hospital (BGH).
Following this, hundreds of the protestors including women, launched one day ‘Brikshawas Satyagraha’ (living on tree) protesting the indifferent attitude of management in providing jobs. Protestors climb-up on a tree near Gandhi Chowk, 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 goes in-vain, said a displaced person.
“At the time of acquiring our lands to set up plant, company had promised jobs to 24,000 identified displaced people. Now they have failed from their promise”, he alleged. “We will step up our agitation if our demand is not met”, said N Kumar another displaced person. He also threatens to hold a massive demonstration.
Notably, most of the displaced groups are demanding from BSl to provide jobs in bulk while the BSl management has declared that it has already provided jobs to about 16,000 displaced people earlier.