The workers were arrested on tuesday night for

The workers were arrested
on Tuesday night for alleged-
ly vandalising the infrastruc-
ture of the ferrochrome
plant, attacking fellow work-
ers and assaulting police per-
sonnel who tried to convince
them to end the stir, said pol-
ice sources.
Sub-Divisional Police Offic-
er, Chhatrapur, Utkal Keshari
Dash  said  the  workers  had
staged  a  demonstration  in
front  of  the  plant  and  were
preventing other workers
from entering the premises.
Adequate  police  arrange-
ment has been made in the
area to prevent escalation of
tension.  While  four  cases
have been lodged against the
arrested  workers,  the  agita-
tors  have  also  filed  a  case
against a few policemen for
harassment.
Permanent job demand
The  arrested  workers  are
from villages where land was
acquired by Tata Steel for the
project. The legal adviser of
the arrested workers, Mr. T.K.
Reddy, said for the last three
years  they  have  been  de-
manding permanent employ-
ment  in  the  company  or  its
subsidiary, as they were pro-
mised  during  displacement.
“Till  afternoon  neither  the
administration nor the com-
pany  authorities  came  over
to hold discussion with them
[agitating  family  members].
The protesters have decided
to  continue  the  strike  till
some conclusion is reached,”
he added.
According  to  Tata  Steel
sources, production has
stopped  at  its  ferrochrome
plant due to "large-scale dam-
age to the infrastructure" by
agitating workers on June 27.
Workers’ arrest triggers protest in Ganjam
Tata Steel ferrochrome plant workers allegedly created ruckus, attacked policemen
Staff Reporter
Berhampur
The ruling BJP has registered
victory in 9% of 14% seats in
panchayat bodies in Tripura
that went to polls on July 27.
The  party  had  earlier  won
86% seats uncontested.
The counting of votes in
the three-tier panchayat
polls was marred by clashes
between  the  Congress  and
BJP supporters in Kailasha-
har, headquarters of Unako-
ti district in north Tripura.
Security  forces  resorted
to baton charge to disperse
the mobs. At least four per-
sons suffered minor injuries.
In other areas, counting was
peaceful  amid  presence  of
police and paramilitary
troops.
The BJP has thanked peo-
ple for making it win in 95%
seats across gram pan-
chayats,  panchayat  samitis
and zila parishads.
BJP wins 95% seats in
Tripura panchayat polls
Syed Sajjad Ali
Agartala
On its second day of nation-
al  general  council  meet  in
Berhampur on Wednesday,
the All India Kisan Mazdoor
Sabha  demanded  the  go-
vernment to ensure that the
procurement  price  of  all
agricultural produce is one
and  a  half  times  the  total
production cost. Leaders of
the organisation alleged the
present fixation of procure-
ment price is too arbitrary.
Farmers seek
‘fair price’
Staff Reporter
BERHAMPUR