TURA: The Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, which supplies fuel and gas to Meghalaya, has announced that its workers will cease operations into the troubled Garo Hills region with immediate effect while August 18 has been set as the deadline for the rest of the State.
The action by the union comes close on the heels of another decision taken by the petrol pump dealers association of Garo Hills in a separate meeting held in Tura on Tuesday afternoon.
The association has decided to continue their ongoing strike with closure of all pumps until the government arrest the guilty, provide compensation for the victim’s family, ensure security for its staff and conduct regular police patrolling in sensitive areas.
“We will have another meeting tomorrow to decide on whether or not to continue the closure of the pumps,” informed one of the dealers to The Shillong Times.
The Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, in the meantime, is angry with the Meghalaya Government over the alleged lack of security provided to its staff working in various fuel stations and operating tankers that ferry in the much-needed commodity into the State.
“Petrol pump workers of Meghalaya, drivers and helpers of tankers transporting oil and gas are harassed by anti-social elements in many places of Meghalaya and mainly in Garo Hills districts and several drivers have been killed and products looted,” stated Ramen Das, general secretary of the Union from Guwahati in a press communiqué.
The union has questioned the stand of the Meghalaya government in failing to provide compensation for the victims of the violence despite repeated reminders.
“When the attack on Tisha Auto Agency at Chasingre near Tura took place on December 11 last year, we had raised the issue with Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri and demanded compensation for our staff who was killed and two others injured. She assured us that compensation will be provided after parliamentary elections get over. Nothing has been done till now,” claimed the Mazdoor Union leader.
Pointing out to the series of incidents targeting fuel stations and its staff, he mentioned the attack on Super Power Point fuel station in Mendipather on March 12 this year, lobbing of a grenade at Meghalaya auto Agency station in New Tura on July 8, the Chasingre attack last year and the latest attack on Rachel station in Bokmagre.
“Of late the anti-social elements have started looting money from the tanker drivers in the Shillong By-pass road from Barapani,” revealed the union leader.
He accused the Meghalaya government of failing to stop such attacks and punish the culprits and expressed disappointment with the State for not providing compensation for the victims.
“Under these conditions the Mazdoor Union has decided to boycott loading and unloading of petroleum products to Meghalaya from August 18,” said the Union leader and later added that in regards to Garo Hills the strike would commence immediately.
