Alang strike enters second day, likely to continue on Monday

The blanket strike demanding dropping of culpable homicide charges against three executives of a ship-breaking company at Alang-Sosiya Ship-Recycling Yard continued for the second day on Saturday and will most likely spill over to Monday, the next working day there.

Meanwhile, members of the Ship Recycling Industries Association (SRIA) continued to meet other local industry associations for support, notably the Bhavnagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.

"We put out demands in front of them and on Monday there will be a meeting of the executive committees and office-bearers of various associations to decide on the future course of action. But the strike will definitely continue on Monday," said Nitin Kankhia, secretary of the SRIA.

He added they have also met district police authorities, demanding the charges against their colleagues be watered down from IPC 304 (culpable homicide) to at least 304A (death due to negligence), which is more lenient.

"The police can still do this because the charge-sheets have not been filed yet," said Kankhia.

While the SRIA is spearheading the strike, other businesses connected to Alang — such as oxygen plants, rollers, and the busling second-hand market nearby the yard — have also joined by downing shutters and closing factories.

A government official at Alang-Sosiya said several ships have beached for dismantling since Friday when the strike began, but they are tied up safely ashore and left there since none of the dismantling work takes place.

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