Tension prevailed at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL-VSP) at Gajuwaka on Tuesday after nearly 4,000 contract workers sacked by the management laid a siege to the office.
They reportedly pelted stones at the glass domed structures of the Executive Director’s office to express their anger against the plant management, and the State and Central governments for removing them from jobs.
The executive cadre of the officials were trapped inside the ED office due to the protest by the workers outside the office.
The management deployed heavy police forces and CISF personnel on-site.
The workers were protesting the removal of 4,200 contract workers, sparking outrage among the employees. The state government is being accused of attempting to suppress the workers' movement.
Senior police officials have arrived at the steel plant to handle the situation.
Ever since the Centre announced disinvestment plans to privatise the Vizag steel plant, it has become a hotbed of protests. The plant also became an issue to be discussed during elections.
There were also reports that due to lack of resources to procure raw material used in steel making three of the four blast furnaces in the steel plant have been shut down.
The RINL had also jumped payments to its creditors. Workers have been demanding that the Centre either infuse capital into the Plant or merge it into SAIL to keep the steel plant running. Workers have been alleging that the government has been forcing the Plant to be shut by not providing any support in the last few years.
