Stir called against alleged harassment of oil workers
Guwahati   30-Aug-2011

The Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union has demanded compensation for the victims of the kerosene blasts which rocked the State recently and an end to alleged harassment of oil workers in the name of the probe ordered by the government into the kerosene blasts.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on August 29, 2011, Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union general secretary Ramen Das said, “About 20 people died in the kerosene blasts and more than a hundred were injured. Till today the victims have not been given any compensation of the oil companies. These blasts took place because of sheer negligence on the part of IndianOil (IOCL) and Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (BRPL).”

Das further said, “Kerosene depot workers are been harassed now in the name of the probe that has been ordered by the government. In fact, five workers in kerosene depots in Dhubri district have been arrested. Even drivers of oil tankers are being harassed.”

Besides compensation for the kerosene blast victims and an end to the harassment being meted out on oil workers, the Union has also demanded punishment for those responsible for the blasts, renovation of parking places in all oil/gas locations with proper facilities for drinking water, electricity, sanitation and security and settlement of the six-point demand charter immediately.

The Union has called a 24- hour boycott of loading and unloading of petroleum products throughout the Northeast on September 3 from 5 am for fulfillment of their demands.