Tension at Police Station Over Apprentice’s Death

Bhandara: Tension flared at Jawahar Nagar police station late Friday night as around 300 residents of Sahuli village, the hometown of apprentice Ankit Barai who died in the blast, gathered to demand justice. The police station, located within the factory premises, also witnessed a protest by over 150 apprentices, including women, employed at the ordnance factory.
The apprentices accused the factory management of assigning them tasks meant for full-time workers without adequate training or safety measures. Some women apprentices alleged they were deployed in the propellant section, handling sensitive explosives without proper safety gear or training, and were even given production targets.
Apprentices are hired on a two-year contract and absorbed only if vacancies arise, they said. The protesters demanded immediate action against the management, alleging negligence and lack of safeguards for the workers, especially apprentices.
Residents of Sahuli also pressed for the relocation of their village, located barely 300 meters from the factory, citing the immense risk exposed by the accident.
Barai's uncle, Bhagwandas, staged a protest at the police station along with other villagers, demanding that a case of homicide be registered against the management officials.
The apprentices revealed they had gone on strike following the blast and also met with Bhandara district collector Sanjay Kolte to raise their grievances.
However, the factory management defended its stance, claiming that apprentices were assigned tasks alongside full-time workers as part of their training.