Labourer dies while unloading coal at Mouda NTPC, mob turns violent

Nagpur: Contractual labourer Ajay Motghare (22) died after being trapped between an unloading machine and a railway wagon on the premises of Mouda thermal power project in the early hours of Friday.
Constable Ravi Wankhede, in-charge of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Rajendra Pansare, and a couple of workers were injured as the agitators resorted to violence over the incident.
The incident took place at 5.25am when a wagon with a consignment of coal reached the tippler complex for unloading. Motghare, on night duty, was deputed for unloading of coal at the site.
Police and CISF personnel had a harrowing time controlling the agitating labourers , who were demanding hefty compensation and stringent action against the NTPC management as well as the private contractor.
The agitators ransacked the hospital on the plant’s premises where Motghare was admitted with grave injuries. The glass panes were shattered and furniture damaged at the hospital. The angry crowd later pelted stones at the official residence of NTPC’s chief general manager Alok Gupta.
Cops from Mouda police station as well as the adjoining ones had to be summoned to the premises as the agitators went berserk. Police had to control the unruly mob with mild force.
There were a high level meeting at NTPC following which a compensation of Rs 28.50 lakh was declared to the nearest kin of Motghare. Senior PI Madhukar Gite of Mouda police station said a case of accidental death has been registered. “We will seek technical opinion regarding the accident to fix responsibility,” Gite said.
Former minister Rajendra Mulak said it is crucial to ascertain whether the incident was a fallout of failure on part of the NTPC management or a ground level mistake by the victim
“The safety factors as per different work manuals are crucial in industrial functioning. There should be an effort to narrow down breach of safety and fix responsibility,” he said.