The health condition of both Western India Shipyard Limited workers, including Alexander Pacheco and Vishnu Naik who are on indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Panjim, since last 13 days has reportedly been deteriorating day-by-day, however, no one from the State govt has come forward to mediate.
Such attitude of the government irked not only the WISL workers, but also other locals from Headland Sada. In order to make their voice heard, the locals along with WISL workers called for a bandh at Headland Sada in Mormugao.
All shops and other commercial establishments in Headland Sada remained closed since morning.
However, high voltage drama started at about 7.40 am when over 500 locals from Headland Sada, including WISL workers, along with their families, Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar and others assembled at Sada junction and blocked the road near Sada Junction by sitting on the road, thereby disconnecting Headland Sada from Vasco. This caused a severe traffic jam. Vehicles supplying essential commodities, school buses and ambulances were allowed to move.
After receiving information of the road blockade, the Vasco SDPO DySP Suchita Desai, Mormugao PI Kapil Naik, Verna PI Shailesh Narvekar along with a police force rushed to the site to control the situation.
DySP Suchita Desai and PI Kapil Naik tried to convince the protesters to clear the road. However, they demanded that unless someone from the government gives a assurance on resolving their issue, they would continue their protest. Deputy Collector Mormugao, Gaurish Shankhwalkar, and State administration officials tried to convince the protesters, but without success.
“Such situation would have not arisen if someone from the government had intervened and ended the hunger strike. It is the government which has to be held responsible for such situation and not the people fighting for justice,” MMC Councillor Murari Bandekar told officials who tried to convince the locals. .
The State administration officials sought the help of Union leader Ajitsingh Rane, but he washed his hands off the issue, claiming that he was not in a position to convince the locals, as the State government failed to react positively on the deteriorating health condition of WISL workers on indefinite hunger strike. He extended his full support to the agitating locals.
Deputy Collector Gaurish Shankhwalkar issued an order to arrest those involved in blocking the road. Police detained over 200 people and cleared the traffic. Those detained were taken to Vasco Police Station.
The locals continued their protest at the Vasco Police Station by shouting slogans demanding justice for WISL workers and immediate intervention of state government in resolving pending salary issue.
