Sanitation workers’ stir turns violent in Sonepat

High drama unfolded at the Sonepat Municipal Corporation (MC) on Friday when protesting sanitation employees allegedly attacked officials who had gone to pacify them. The situation spiralled out of control, forcing MC staff to flee, with workers reportedly chasing them up to the PWD office, where glass panes were broken and several staff members sustained injuries.

The tension arose after the MC allotted a new sanitation contract for the eastern zone (wards 1 to 14) on September 15, worth Rs 1.65 crore. The earlier contract had expired on August 31. As the new agency took charge, sanitation employees began a protest at the MC office on Thursday, which continued into Friday.

When the chief sanitary inspector, other officials and contractors tried to hold talks with the protesters, tempers flared. The sanitation employees allegedly assaulted the officials.

Mukesh Tank, president of the sanitation employees’ association, alleged that officials and contractors “misbehaved with women sanitation workers and used casteist slurs,” which triggered anger. He claimed that the new agency had “reduced both the number of employees and salaries,” leading to refusal by workers to join under the new terms.

As the officials ran to save themselves, the protesters allegedly chased them to the PWD’s Superintending Engineer’s office, broke glass doors and assaulted a sanitary inspector. Nishant, a chowkidar of the PWD, was also injured when he tried to shut the doors.

Following the violence, the PWD Department filed a complaint at Civil Lines police station, while MC officials also lodged a complaint against the sanitation workers. In turn, the sanitation employees filed their own complaint against officials for misbehaviour and casteist remarks.

MC Commissioner Harshit Kumar confirmed the new contract had been awarded only four days ago. “Our sanitation wing officials conducted surprise checks during night sweeping and found some employees absent. Action was initiated, after which employees began their dharna,” he said.

“The chief sanitary inspector and other officials went to pacify them, but they were attacked. The sanitation workers are insisting that supervisors be appointed from among them,” he added, asserting that a police complaint has been filed against the assailants.

Heavy police deployment has been made at the MC office to prevent further escalation.