Mantrigam (Bandipora), May 9: Work on the ongoing Kishen Ganaga Hydro Electric Power project in this north Kashmir district came to a grinding halt on Wednesday when the workers of Hindustan Construction Company went on an indefinite strike.
 About six hundred workers including technicians, drivers and laborers called stir after they were forced to end up the one day sit in protest. Demonstrators were demanding the dissolution of the Workers Union. “ It has been framed by the management in nexus with a few chosen workers,” protesters alleged.
 They said that they were protesting against the death of an electrician Khaild Asra Khan of Nowpora Bandipora who died inside the tunnel due to “mismanagement.”
 “On Thursday evening one of the senior members of the union along with his cohort appeared on the scene and compelled us to call off the strike. When we refused to follow his diktat we were beaten to pulp,” they said, adding that we have decided to go on a indefinite strike till our demands are met.    
  “We were demanding justice for the Khalid Asra who died due to mismanagement, he was the seventh worker who died due lack of safety measures,” they added.
 Protesters demanded dissolution of management sponsored federation and take action against the workers who have earlier resorted to harassment, extortion and exploitation of the HCC workers.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 IST