Civic body staff on strike in Ghaziabad following ink throwing incident

The members of Nagar Nigam Karmchari Sangh, the workers’ union of Ghaziabad municipal corporation, went on a strike on Tuesday and threatened to prolong their stir if those involved in the attack on Mohan Nagar zonal in-charge were not arrested immediately.

The members of Nagar Nigam Karmchari Sangh, the workers’ union of Ghaziabad municipal corporation, went on a strike on Tuesday and threatened to prolong their stir if those involved in the attack on Mohan Nagar zonal in-charge were not arrested immediately.

The striking employees said their demand is arrest of the accused persons who were involved in the attack on officials. (HT Photo)

On Monday afternoon, residents from Shalimar Garden reached corporation’s Mohan Nagar zonal office and staged a protest over the poor civic conditions. While the officials, including zonal in-charge Sunil Rai, tried to discuss the issue with residents, an unidentified man threw ink on Rai and escaped.

“Our strike is to demand the arrest of the accused persons who were involved in the attack on officials. Apart from misbehaving with out officials, the residents of Shalimar Garden thrashed our three members. We will continue the strike if the arrest is not made immediately,” said Harendra Nagar from Nagar Nigam Karmchari Sangh.

“If there are no arrests, we will also call upon other unions to support us and request them to go on strike with us,” Nagar said.

Following the incident, an FIR under five IPC sections -- rioting, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from his duty, intentional insult with intent to provoke and breach of peace -- was lodged at Sahibabad police station on June 6.

In their complaint, the officials stated that the attack was planned and named eight persons, who were holding the protest, apart from 200 unidentified persons.

“We will speak to the employees and persuade them to withdraw their strike. The corporation offices remained closed on Tuesday,” said DK Sinha, additional municipal commissioner.

“We are also in talks with the district officials about the incident,” Ghaziabad Mayor Ashu Verma said.

On their part, Sahibabad circle officer Ashish Srivastava said “the investigation is pending following the lodging of the FIR. There has been no arrest made in the incident so far”.