Sanitation worker dies during protest at Mohali MC office as strike enters Day 3
The Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation is demanding a hike in salaries, regularisation of jobs, and withdrawal of the online attendance system
A 60-year-old sanitation staff employee reportedly died of cold while sitting on a protest at the Mohali Municipal Corporation office building in Sector 68 early on Thursday morning.
Officials said it has not been confirmed whether the victim, Surjit Singh, a resident of Peer Sohana in Kharar, died due to cold or suffered a heart attack while sitting on a dharna.
The Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation strike entered Day 3 on Thursday, demanding a hike in salaries, regularisation of jobs, and withdrawal of the online attendance system.
Following the incident, sanitation staff announced their decision to keep the body in the MC office building. However, Kharar police reached the deceased’s house and held talks with the family to cremate the body in the village, said Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation office bearer Pawan Godyal.
A confrontation later ensued between family members, the sanitation employees’ union, and the police.
Meanwhile, a major standoff is expected at the MC office building between sanitation staff and officers of the Local Government Department, with employees gathering in large numbers.
On Wednesday, sanitation staff gheraoed the MC office building, forcing Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh to abort the launch of the door-to-door segregated waste collection programme.
The staff have threatened to intensify their agitation after talks with MLA Kulwant Singh and Mohali MC Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu failed to break the deadlock.
