Transport workers ransack Girisola check gate

Berhampur, Aug 23 (UNI) At least ten people, including some police officials, were injured when irate employees and workers of Ganjam-Phulbani Private Motor Transport Workers Union ransacked the offices at the Orissa Andhra interstate commercial check gate at Girisola, 18-km from here yesterday, police said today.

They said the agitators were protesting against collection of illegal money by the brokers.

The injured included OIC Golanthara Police station Jyoti Prakash Panda, ASI Santosh Satpathi, Girisola Gate staff Manmohan Pradhan, Subash Chandra Sahu and Tulsi Amma.

Police said the offices of the MVI, ACTO and the Way Bill Office situated at the check gate were ransacked and looted. The protestors damaged the doors, windowpanes, computers, furniture and tore the records of all these offices.

The employees and workers armed with 'lathi' and iron rods, went to Girisola in eight trucks and two buses and went on a rampage for more than an hour.

Although four companies of police force were present at the spot, they could do nothing. The irate employees and workers also damaged five nearby pan-cabins and looted two other shops.

The employees later organised a protest rally and urged the authority to check the illegal collection of money by brokers, put an end to the activities of the brokers and discontinue the engagement of the locals in tax collection.

Union Secretary Pramod Sahu while alleging that huge swindling of money took place every day at the check gate, demanded CBI inquiry into the entire episode.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 11 people in connection with the ransacking the offices and assaulting the officials.

UNI XC-DP KK SK MIR KP1622