The employees of the Education Department resorted to a flash strike on Thursday demanding action against an outsider, who assaulted one of the workers, and also sought adequate police protection.
Lakshumansamy, employees’ union leader, said the outsider, Saravanan an activist, went to the Education director’ s office at around 6.45 on Wednesday evening. The peon, Venkatesan, on duty then asked him to leave the office as the working hours were over for the day. But the person did not oblige and instead entered into an argument with Venkatesan.
After heated arguments, both allegedly exchanged a few blows. Meanwhile, Venkatesan’s colleagues intervened and pacified them following which they dispersed.
Lakshumansamy said immediately after the brawl Saravanan complained to the Orleanpet police station following which Venkatesan was asked to be present at the police station on Thursday morning.
On learning about this, the employees came out of the office and staged demonstration on the office premises urging stern action against Saravanan. The employees’ union leader said they tried to approach the education director in this regard, but could not do so as he was busy with an important meeting during the day.
Later in the evening, a section of the employees staged road blockade on the East Coast Road. Police, who reached the spot, told them to lodge a complaint so that action could be taken. Lakshumansamy informed that the employees will continue the agitation till Friday if there was no action against the person who assaulted the department’ s worker.
It may be recalled that the employees of the Puducherry secretariat went on strike last year following an attack by the activists of a political party, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, on a police guard. Interestingly, the policeman was removed from the duty of a guard at the secretariat after the incident.
While in another incident, one person was hacked to death in full public view inside the Education Department complex in May this year.