GUWAHATI: Hundreds of employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India across the seven states of North East staged demonstrations on Thursday against the alleged police lathicharge inside the corporation s divisional office at Jorhat in Upper Assam.
All divisional offices of the corporation across the country sent telegrams and fax to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and chief secretary P.C Sarma condemning the incident and demanding punishment against the guilty.
According to officials in the LIC Jorhat office, on Wednesday afternoon, an LIC employee met with an accident. He died on the spot. An irate mob set ablaze the truck which hit the employee. Soon after the incident, police stormed the office and there was lathicharge.
The police, however, said there was stone pelting on the security personnel. Police sources added an inquiry has been ordered.
Several organisations have called for a 12-hour Jorhat district bandh on Friday. President of eastern zone unit of All India insurance employees association Satanjib Das told ET: Police entered the divisional office of the LIC without permission and started lathicharge on the employees. About 25 employees received serious injuries, one in the eye and seven in the head. Several people were detained. Even women employees were beaten up.
A public meeting was organised in Jorhat on Thursday was attended by several trade unions and NGOs. Mr Das said: The LIC management has taken up the issue with the Assam government. The chief secretary has assured that necessary action will be taken."
LIC has over 4000 employees in the North East. It has around 11 divisional offices in east zone. The zone comprises West Bengal and seven North Eastern states.
Labels: Life Insurance Corporation
