Mangaluru: Tanker owners flouting rules, claims DYFI, demands action against cop
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Updated
Mangaluru, Jan 2: Hours after tanker drivers and other protestors were arrested in Suratkal, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state vice-president Muneer Katipalla held a protest meet here on Saturday January 2 to explain the situation and demand action in the matter. He also demanded suspension of a police officer who allegedly ordered lathi charge on the protestors.
Gas tanker drivers have been on strike for past four days over the killing of a tanker driver Sharavanan at Charapalli in Andhra Pradesh. Cleaner Thangaraju who was with him sustained severe injuries. Nearly 3,000 tankers had stayed off roads, until Saturday when owners of petroleum units brought drivers from Tamil Nadu and sent away the loaded tankers to different places. The situation turned tense after the striking tanker drivers led by DYFI and CITU protested the move. The police arrested 47 of the protestors.
Addressing media persons, Muneer Katipalla said, "There are about 4,000 tankers supplying LPG from MRPL and HPCL to various parts of south India. After the Perne incident, the district administration made a rule that every tanker should have 2 drivers and one conductor. But this rule is not being implemented strictly. Tanker owners appoint only one driver. When the tanker enters the HPCL gate, there will be 2 drivers, and once the gas is filled and the tanker comes out, one of the drivers is sent back by paying Rs 1,500. This way tanker owners along with HPCL officials are manipulating the rules.
"Bullet tanker drivers are supposed to get a fixed salary of Rs 38,000 but the owners pay them only Rs 18,000 a month. The tanker drivers had demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lac for the family of Sharavanan and Rs 5 lac for Thangaraju since they were attacked on duty. But the tanker owner and tanker owners' association are not ready to pay the compensation. To stop the protesters from agitating, the tanker owners have put 6 drivers in jail over false allegations in Chennai," he claimed.
"Today, the tanker owners brought substitute drivers from Chennai and started to resume the operations. Protesting truck drivers, DYFI and CITU leaders stopped the tankers in a peaceful manner, but the police not only arrested 47 protesters and took them to Panambur police station, they also razed down the shamiyana put by the protesters. ACP Madan Gaonkar did not even talk to the drivers or try to convince them. Instead, all of a sudden he ordered lathi charge on the protestors," he alleged.
"About 200 tanker owners have come from Chennai and they are threatening the drivers protesting outside the HPCL gate in a bid to make them get back to work. Police have arrested Imthiyaz B K, Yogish, Naveen, William Wilson and other tanker drivers. We urge the deputy commissioner to intervene in this matter. Though the incident took place in Andhra Pradesh, we are protesting here because there are many tanker drivers who ply from here to Chennai.
"Compensation should be paid to the families of Sharavanan and Thangaraju. All the leaders and drivers arrested should be released immediately. Prima facie, it looks like ACP Madan Gaonkar has taken bribe from the tanker owners' association. He should be suspended immediately and the state government should order an inquiry against him," Muneer Katipalla demanded.
Tanker driver Manoharan K said, "There is contract of Rs 76,000 between tanker owners and HPCL to have two drivers and one conductor for each tanker. But owners appoint only one driver and instead of paying Rs 38,000, they pay only Rs 18,000."
DYFI leader Sadiq Kannur, tanker drivers Pandyan and K Selvan were present at the press meet.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that HPCL company has sent more than 400 loaded tankers to different parts of the country under police protection.
DCP Shantharaju, ACP Madan Gaonkar, Surathkal police inspector Manjunath, police inspectors from Mulky, Suratkal, Bajpe and Panambur and staff were part of the operation.
Earlier Report
Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 2: Scores of gas tanker drivers, who have been on a strike against the killing of a tanker driver in Andhra Pradesh, were on Saturday January 2 arrested at Suratkal here. Along with drivers, activists of DYFI and CITU who were supporting the strike were also arrested.
The protest has been going from the last four days in front of the gas filling unit outside in front of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) premises near Surathkal, demanding compensation to the family of truck driver Sharvanan who was beaten to death in Andhra Pradesh on December 19 and arrest of the culprits. Nearly 3,000 tankers had stayed off roads and parked in Suratkal.
On Saturday morning, owners of the petroleum unit tried to move the gas tankers with police protection and new truck drivers brought in from Tamil Nadu.
Hundreds of protesting truck drivers, DYFI and CITU leaders stopped the tankers and questioned the police. As the situation threatened to go out of control, police arrested 47 protestors and took them to Panambur police station. Among those arrested were Imthiyaz B K, Yogish, Naveen and William Wilson.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that HPCL company has sent more than 400 loaded tankers to different parts of the country under police protection.
DCP Shantharaju, ACP Madan Gaonkar, Surathkal police inspector Manjunath, police inspectors from Mulky, Suratkal, Bajpe and Panambur and staff were part of the operation.
A press meet in this regard is expected soon.