Police fear MCD employees may self immolate

Raising an alarm on the MCD employees strike in Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police has expressed that the agitating sanitation workers may now resort to self immolation to attract public and media attention.

Raising an alarm on the MCD employees strike in Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police has expressed that the agitating sanitation workers may now resort to self immolation to attract public and media attention.

Civic workers during a protest at MCD office in Karol Bagh. (PTI Photo)

Deputy Commissioner KK Vyas has written the letter to Municipal Corporation commissioners asking them to address the grievances of the agitating employees and importantly for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the city.

The strike of the MCD employees entered 10 day on Friday.

Sanitation workers, teachers and others have been on roads demanding the payment of salaries, due for several months. The police fears with passing days the strike would intensify with the medical fraternity having extended their support. On Friday the MCD employees blocked NH24, Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, in Central Delhi Vikas Marg has been blocked and Laxmi Nagar in east Delhi.

In his letter, the commissioner has also said that strike has led to serious law and order situation in the city, affecting smooth movement of traffic. The police also fears outbreak of epidemic due to piling of garbage.

“Any attempt to lift the garbage by other agencies will be strongly opposed by agitating MCD employees and can result in clashes between them. Any situation necessitating use of force or any untoward incident causing injury of any of the striking employees or even natural death can further aggravate the situation,” said the letter, a copy of which is with HT.

Police has also suggested that corporations should release ad-hoc funds for peaceful resolution of the issue.