Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, July 18: Fed up with the fake promises made by the higher authorities of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, four workers have attempted self-immolation, here.
The PHE workers, who were on strike since last one year, took this extreme step to wake up the higher authorities of the PHE Department from the deep slumber.
The staff members present in the office of Xen PHE Surjit Singh foiled the self-immolation attempt of the workers and informed the police.
Click here to watch video
On getting information, police team rushed to the spot and took the four workers into custody for further action.
The four workers who attempted self-immolation were identified as Narinder Kumar, Balwinder Kumar, Krishan Chand and Bishan Dass.
As per reports, the workers entered into the office of Xen PHE Surjit Singh and asked him about the promises made by him regarding release of the pending salaries of the PHE workers. Later, the workers poured kerosene oil on themselves and tried self-immolation but officials foiled their bid.
District President Shiv Narayan Singh told that Kathua district is having 1800 workers who are working in various cadre and are fighting for their right since past one year.
“Our demand is release of pending five year salaries viz permanent status”, he said, adding that workers attempted self-immolation as Xen PHE Department failed to fulfill the demands of the workers.
Technical Officer PHE Department Tejinder Singh has appealed to the workers to resume their duties. He informed that the issue of the workers already stands taken up with the higher authorities. “I hope the higher authorities will take immediate decision to release the pending wages of the workers”, he added.
Meanwhile, police team has been deployed at the hunger strike site of the workers to avoid any untoward incident.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
