post news network
Bhadrak, August 18: A team of Bansada police has arrested 42 persons in connection with the arson and vandalism at Dhamra port. Violence broke out at the port as three labourers died after they were trapped in a pile of coal. Two of the persons arrested were minor boys.
While 15 of the people arrested are from Kaithakhola, 11 are from Dosinga, 14 from Jagulai and two from Dhamra.
According to reports, six cases have been lodged with the police for vandalism and arson and 551 people were booked for the incident. They also suggest that male residents of villages surrounding the port are fleeing home fearing a police crackdown.
Women and child development minister Prafulla Samal, MLAs Byomkesh Ray, Muktikant Mandal and several other people’s representatives met the kin of the deceased labourers at Dosinga. They assured the families of all possible government support.
Gurupad Mandal and Dillip Mandal of Dosinga, and Suresh Gochhayat of Baliapal had died in the mishap. Following the mishap, locals staged an agitation that turned violent and protesters burned assets and vandalised property belonging to the port. Furniture and computers were allegedly looted.
About 15 cars, eight trucks, 15 SUVs and 20 bikes were damaged in the protest action.
The protesters also laid out the bodies of the labourers on the company premises and demanded compensation. Later, the port authorities announced a Rs20 lakh compensation each to the next of kin of the victims.