Violence Erupts At Hazira of Surat As Contract Workers Of L&T Staged Protest Against Wages
Surat : Nearly 5,000 contract workers of Larsen & Toubro allegedly went on a rampage at the under-construction plant of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India in Hazira, Gujarat. The protest, which began early in the morning over pending demands related to wages and working hours, escalated rapidly into vandalism and clashes with cops.
The agitating workers had been raising concerns for a long time. Their primary demands include reducing daily duty hours from 12 hours to 8 hours. They are also seeking double overtime pay, alleging that overtime is currently compensated at a single rate. Workers further claim that despite performing high-risk erection work at significant heights, they are paid only ₹600 to ₹700 per day.
A large contingent of Surat Police rushed to the site. As the situation spiralled out of control, police resorted to a mild lathi-charge and fired more than 40 tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. More than 25 workers have been detained for allegedly disturbing law and order. Tight security has been deployed across the plant premises to prevent further escalation.
The viral video of refinery unrest in Panipat worsened tensions. “The matter became complicated after the video spread on WhatsApp, leading to mass gathering and escalation,” DCP Baranwal added. With tight security now deployed at the Hazira plant, investigations are underway.
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