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Industrial workers stir turns violent; Delhi schools closed for two days
Thousands of angry industrial workers agitating against closure of factories in residential areas turned violent, setting ablaze government offices, fire brigade tenders and public transport buses in several places of the city on Monday.
Train services were affected in many areas. Vehicles were set ablaze, shops were looted, offices and schools witnessed poor attendance and panic was seen amongst the Delhities
Fire brigade sources said that the mobs set afire the MTNL office near Radhu Place Cinema hall in Shakarpur area and a Delhi Vidyut Board office in Shahdara in East Delhi. They said the damage to the MTNL office was substantial. Train services were affected in many areas. Vehicles were set ablaze, shops were looted, offices and schools witnessed poor attendance and panic was seen amongst the Delhities
Fire brigade sources said that the mobs set afire the MTNL office near Radhu Place Cinema hall in Shakarpur area and a Delhi Vidyut Board office in Shahdara in East Delhi. They said the damage to the MTNL office was substantial.
The municipal commissioner`s directive close on the heels of the Supreme Court`s contempt notice to him and the Delhi Chief Secretary on November 14 for the failure to implement the apex court`s orders of relocating or closing down industries which
are polluting or are operating in the non-conforming areas of he capital.
Among the areas worst-hit by the industrial workers` stir on day were Laxmi Nagar and Shahadra in East Delhi, Mayapuri and Moti Nagar crossings andibritannia and Madhuban Chowks in West Delhi and Filmistan area and Wazirpur in north and north-west Delhi.
The maximum number of industrial units in non-conforming colonies are near these areas.
`Protests by the industrial workers started early in the morning with several major roads with traffic crossings being blocked, throwing the office rush hour traffic out of gear. The main Ring Road was jammed with vehicles and police had to divert traffic through narrow lanes, creating further chaos.
Colonies in east, west and north Delhi, where the maximum number of industrial units are located in non-conforming areas, were the worst affected.
The owners and workers of industrial areas are protesting against the sealing of small-scale factories by the municipal corporation and the Delhi government in pursuance of Supreme Court directions to relocate or close down polluting units.
Bureau Report