PANJIM: The mining truckers’ strike demanding a hike in transportation rates took a violent turn on Tuesday, when they seized three ore-laden trucks of Vedanta Ltd, allegedly assaulted its employees, and handed over the vehicles to the Bicholim police.
The truckers said that the vehicles were stopped for transporting ore beyond 6 pm, which is the time limit set by the High Court for ore transportation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Gaonkar said the truck owners complained that the vehicles, which were handed over to the police, were operating in violation of the transportation code of mining ore.
However, Vedanta Ltd claimed that the truck owners had intercepted their trucks before 6 pm and assaulted two of its officers. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Vedanta stated that the ore was being transported by trucks from the company’s Codli mine to its pig iron plant at Navelim and that its officers were escorting the trucks in a jeep.
“On reaching the Godbai junction at around 5.45 pm, a group of 25 persons stopped the vehicles and the escort jeep. They then assaulted two of its security officers and snatched their mobile phones,” Vedanta said adding, that the matter was immediately reported to Bicholim police, who reached the site at around 7 pm.
Investigations are in progress under Bicholim Police Inspector Neenad Deulkar.
