A flash strike by over 200 truck drivers at the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) plant in Ambalamugal in Kochi on Thursday resulted in LPG cylinder supply being affected in different parts of Kerala. The protest was staged over the alleged assault of one of their colleagues on Wednesday.
Bharat Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) unit secretary and one of the protesting drivers Prakashan KN, told HT that they began the indefinite strike at 6 am on Thursday against the assault of fellow driver Sreekumar at Kodakara in Thrissur district.
“Sreekumar had gone to a private agency in Kodakara with a truck full of cylinders. A dispute erupted over wages with some Union labourers who were involved in unloading the cylinders from the truck. The labourers wanted ₹20 extra than the rate decided upon. Subsequently, Sreekumar was brutally assaulted by the workers and the act has been captured on CCTV cameras,” Prakashan said.
Sreekumar has sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi, he added.
“No one should be assaulted especially during duty hours. We began the strike to demand protection from the contractors and the BPCL. No one should have to suffer something like this,” said Prakashan.
{{/usCountry}}“No one should be assaulted especially during duty hours. We began the strike to demand protection from the contractors and the BPCL. No one should have to suffer something like this,” said Prakashan.
{{/usCountry}}The BMS secretary said that the strike has led to halting of supply of LPG cylinders from the refinery in Kochi to seven districts in the state north of Ernakulam. “Around 140 trucks carrying cylinders go in a day on average from the refinery. This movement has been affected. Around 220 drivers are on strike. We will continue the protest until our demands are met,” he said.
Officials of BPCL were unavailable for comment.