2 hurt, 8 vehicles damaged in ‘mob attack’ at Baddi firm

Two persons were injured and eight vehicles, including three trucks, were damaged in a ruckus created allegedly by an irate mob of truckers at Sagar Ispat India Private Limited, a steel drums manufacturing unit, situated at Thana village in Baddi last evening. The Baddi police have intensified patrolling and deputed quick reaction teams in the area.

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On the complaint of the factory management, an FIR has been registered against the rioters for rioting, unlawful assembly, petty organised crime, wrongful restrain, criminal intimidation, disobeying orders given by public servants and mischief, said a police official.

Sagar Ispat official Surender Wadhwa alleged that around 80 truck union members gathered near the factory gate on Wednesday and damaged trucks and private vehicles parked there without any provocation. He said that two persons, who sustained injuries, were also attacked. “They threatened the factory management not to hire vehicles from other states for transportation work. Otherwise, they will not let the company operate. The irate truckers also broke the windowpanes of some vehicles and obstructed them from plying,” added Wadhwa.

He said that as per the High Court orders, the company could hire trucks from anywhere and the truckers had no right to obstruct their work. Wadhwa added that if strict steps were not taken to curb such violence, it would hit the industrial environment. “To create an industry-friendly ambience, strict steps should be taken,” he added.

However, the general secretary of the Nalagarh Truck Operators Union, Dinesh Kaushal, claimed that no member of their organisation was involved in the incident. He said that a few truck drivers passed obscene comments on women in the area, leading to the incident. “There is a long conflict with the factory but no one is interfering in its work. We are peacefully operating within the ambit of law,” claimed Kaushal.

Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association president Rajiv Aggarwal said, “Due to cartelisation of transport business in the area, the industry is compelled to hire trucks from the Nalagarh Truck Operators Union though its freight rates were 30 per cent to 40 per cent higher than the market rates. The association had filed a petition with the high court against the cartelisation of transport sector, following which their union was debarred from monopolistic activities, with the court directing that no undue hindrance should be caused in the free movement of vehicles of the industry.”