Assam Petroleum body withdraws stir
SHILLONG: The State government has directed the petrol outlets in the state to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras to fend off attackers especially in the militant-hit Garo Hills region even as the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union (APMU) has decided to call off its proposed strike scheduled to start from August 18.
“We have suggested to the petrol pump owners to install CCTV cameras inside petrol pumps for security and safety of the staff working in the outlets,” Home Minister Roshan Wajri told newsmen after a meeting with the members of the APMU here on Saturday.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Clement Marak and Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek were also present in the meeting.
The state government has also assured intensified patrolling by armed police personnel in vulnerable areas following which the Assam-based petroleum transporter has also called off their proposed strike, Warjri said, adding “We have also suggested the petrol pump owners to deploy their own security guards since it would not be possible for the Government to provide security to all the outlets”.
When asked about the number of the petrol pump workers who had been killed since 2010, Home Minister said that the government asked the association to provide the details and the names of all those who were killed in the past few years. “The demand for ex gratia to those killed will be examined after that,” she said.
The Government will order an inquiry into alleged looting of the petroleum tankers plying through the Shillong Bypass. “The association has brought to our notice about this,” Warjri said.
Meanwhile, APMU general secretary Ramen Das said “We have decided to withdraw our agitation since we are satisfied with the assurance given by the Government”.
He also said that the Government also assured that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for the recent killing of a petrol pump attendant in Garo Hills.
“We are told that three people have already been arrested in this connection,” he said.
Das also said that the Government has also assured to intensify the patrolling of all the petrol pumps especially those located in Garo Hills.
The APMU had earlier this week announced their decision to stop transportation of all petroleum products to Meghalaya from Monday next week demanding ‘tight security’ covers to their members especially in the Garo Hills region. The strike was announced in the wake of the murder of Bittu Patel, a worker of an oil depot in the outskirts of West Garo Hills district headquarters at Bokmagre on August 12, who was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne youths.
Meanwhile, representatives of nine petrol stations in Tura have threatened to continue their indefinite strike of fuel supply to Garo Hills over the alleged failure on the part of authorities to provide adequate security cover and compensation for their employees.
The association members claimed that two petrol stations, at Dobasipara and Praharinagar, were without any security cover on August 14th when fuel was released for public vehicles resulting in their closure.
The association also claimed that the amount of compensation for the family of the slain staffer and victims of the Chasingre station which took place last year in December failed to get mentioned in the deputy commissioner’s letter of ex-gratia compensation. (With inputs from Tura correspondent)