PARADIP: Tensions escalated outside Seaways Shipping and Logisticsoffice here on Wednesday as one of the agitating contractual workers attempted to immolate himself when police removed them from the protest site and forcibly opened the main gate.
Several contractual workers of the stevedore agency have been staging protest since February 15 claiming they have not received their salaries for the last five to six months.
They said despite flagging the matter with Paradip Port authorities and the Labour department, no action has been taken so far.
While Paradip police had earlier attempted to persuade them to unlock the entry gate on February 17, the protesters refused. On the day, police forcibly vacated the protest site and broke the lock when workers declined to hand over the key. That’s when contract worker Prasant Rath attempted to set himself on fire. However, police prevented him from doing so.
Paradip Model IIC Kabuli Barik said the protest was called off after their demands had been addressed. The company has decided to pay the pending salaries within two months of reopening of the office.