PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
Violence broke out in the Selaqui industrial area on Saturday after protesting workers of Dixon Technologies clashed with police during a demonstration over salary hike, overtime payment and other demands. The protesters allegedly resorted to stone pelting, in which two police personnel and one security guard were injured. The Selaqui police station has registered a case against 500 to 600 unidentified persons who staged a protest outside the company on the road on Friday. Police said that protesters blocked the road, raised slogans, pelted stones and allegedly tried to damage the factory gate. Following the clash, heavy police force was deployed in the entire industrial area and security was increased with drone surveillance.
According to the police, workers from different industrial units in Selaqui had started a work boycott and protest since Thursday. On Friday morning, about 1,600 male and female workers gathered outside different units located on Chakrata Road, Jamanpur and near the riverside area. The workers were carrying banners and placards demanding a salary hike, overtime payment and better working conditions.
Senior officials from the police, administration, Labour department and company management reached the spot to hold talks with the protesters. Officials including superintendent of police (Rural) Pankaj Gairola, Labour commissioner Prakash Chandra Dumka and other officials appealed to workers to maintain peace and end the protest. However, according to the police, the protesters did not submit their demands in writing and no prior permission had been taken for the demonstration.
On Saturday, police claimed that some contractors, local leaders, social media influencers and outsiders were among the crowd and were allegedly provoking workers. The situation worsened when a large group of protesters moved towards the Dixon factory on the main Dehradun-Chakrata Road. Police said that some protesters became aggressive, pushed police personnel and started pelting stones. As the protest intensified, workers allegedly sat on the national highway and blocked traffic, causing long traffic jams and affecting ambulances, school buses and public transport. The police first tried to calm the crowd, but later used mild force and lathi charge to disperse the protesters and clear the highway. Gairola said that discussions between the Labour commissioner and company management regarding the workers’ demands had already taken place a day earlier. Despite this, protesters again gathered at the factory and the situation turned violent. He said the situation is now under control, but additional police force remains deployed in the area.
