Rail slippers torched, vehicles damaged in Khalishpur

The agitating workers while in a procession at Khalishpur damaged many autorickshaws, roadside shops and bill boards pelting stones and hitting those with clubs.

They removed rail tracks and set rail slippers on fire at Kashipur New Road under Khalishpur thana at about 9.30 in the mornibng.

Babul Akhter, staff reporter of Dainik Janmabhumi published from Khulna, was injured when he came under attack at Kashipur when he was taking photograph of burning rail shippers. He was admitted to a local clinic. The attackers also snatched away his digital camera.

Other newsmen and photojournalists who were covering the incidents were chased away by angry jute mill workers, witnesses said.

All vehicles went off the roads and shops remained closed in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt in response to call for indefinite hartal given Wednesday night by Khulna regional unit of 'Dakkhin Bangla Motor Bus Owners and Employees' Association' in support of the jute mill workers.

Life was virtually paralised in the industrial belts during the dawn-to-dusk hartal yesterday.

Production in all eight state owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt is suspended since the blockade programme began four days ago.

Leaders of the Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP) said workers and employees of jute mills will not compromise this time and quit streets until their eight-point demand is met.

They want payment of all arrears and Eid bonus by December 31. Otherwise, the situation will turn more violent in the entire industrial belt which may go beyond control of authorities, PSP convenor Sarder Motaharuddin said.

Meanwhile, top officials at jute mills in the area have been provided with security at their houses as they are feeling insecure with their families.