Yanam violence: Trade unions call for bandh on Feb 2

All trade unions here have called for a bandh on February 2 to urge the government to order a probe by a High Court judge into the recent death of a union leader due to alleged police action in Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh.

In addition to a probe by a High Court judge, the unions are also seeking sanction of a solatium of Rs 25 lakh to the family of the late union leader.

The decision was taken following a meeting of leaders of AITUC, CITU, INTUC, and unions of various other parties today, Dinesh Ponniah, Deputy General Secretary of the Puducherry state council of the AITUC, told PTI.

Violence had broken out in Yanam on January 27 when angry workers of a private factory, Regency Ceramics, went on rampage after their leader M S Murali Mohan was allegedly killed in police action outside the factory.

The workers had attacked the residence of President (Operations) K C Chandrasekhar, resulting in head injuries, following which he died.

Police had opened fire to disperse the violent workers who torched the vehicles of educational institutions run by the factory, electronic goods and other properties. Nine persons had suffered bullet injuries in the police firing.

Ponniah also demanded that the government distribute Rs 10 lakh to each of the nine workers who sustained bullet injuries in the police firing on Friday. The administration should also suspend police officers responsible for the "repressive measures" against the workers who were seeking regularisation of temporary workers and reinstatement of dismissed or suspended workers, Ponniah demanded.