Four dead as Dhanbad mine caves in
Power employees in UP to stage protests on Saturday
At least four people died and many more were injured after a coal mine caved in during illegal mining in the Tetulmari area of Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Thursday. The injured have been admitted to a local hospital. The incident took place in in West Modidih colliery at around 6 am.
More than a dozen people had entered the tunnel to extract coal, during which the roof of the mine collapsed. Eyewitnesses said four persons died on the spot and their bodies were recovered by villagers.
In Jharkhand Assembly, BJP legislator Dhullu Mahto claimed that around 10 people had died in the accident.
He alleged large scale illegal mining was taking place in the district.
Accusing the Yogi government of not keeping its promise, the power employees in Uttar Pradesh are planning to intensify the agitation and stage massive demonstration against it on Saturday. The joint action committee of power men has asked all the employees including the engineers to reach Lucknow on Saturday to participate in the demonstration.
According to power employees' union leaders, the government, while negotiating during the strike that was called off on Sunday, had assured that no punitive action would be taken. It had promised that all the actions of suspension, termination and FIRs against the striking employees would be withdrawn immediately.
However, the cases have not been withdrawn and the agitating employees have to face the wrath of authorities.
Further, the government has asked investigating agencies to look into the assets of power engineers and find out if any criminal cases were lodged against them in the past. The government, according to the power employees' union leaders, is planning a new series of action.
The union leaders said negotiations were held with energy minister on March 19 and now the UP Power Corporation Limited authorities have started sending back dated letters of suspension to the permanent staff members and termination order to the contractual employees who participated in the strike. Leaders said the terminated contractual employees have started working again and trying hard to restore the supply everywhere. However, the letters issued to them are yet to be withdrawn.
Employees' unions of various other departments, universities and corporations have extended their support to the power employees.
Five Maoists were arrested in Sukma district after an encounter with security forces in the jungles of Kottalendra, on Thursday, the police said.
The police got a tip-off that armed guerrillas of outlawed CPI Maoist of Konta Area Committee gathered near National Highway 30 and were planning to carry out an attack. A joint police team of DRG Jawans and district police forces rushed to the area. In the jungles of Kottalendra, the Maoists opened fire on the cops. However, after the gun battle police arrested five Maoists.
Meanwhile, in another incident in Dantewada, Naxalites torched one JCB vehicle and a truck in the Padharpur area of Bacheli police station limits. The vehicles were engaged in extension works of railway track.