JCT-Phagwara MD booked for firing on protesting workers; anger mounts over delay in arrest

The police have booked JCT Mill Director Samir Thapar for allegedly opening fire at protesting workers on the night of October 27.

While earlier the police had not disclosed having lodged the FIR, they have now made it public, probably sensing the anger of the workers. FIR no. 238 had been lodged on a complaint by ASI Jaswant Singh of the Phagwara City police under Section 125 of the BNS and 25 of the Arms Act against Thapar on October 28 at 1.17 am, said an official.

As per the copy of the FIR, the complainant ASI said that during a noisy protest by JCT workers late night on October 27, Thapar had opened fire, which could have been in self-defence.

Thapar had reportedly stayed in Phagwara at JCT Guest House for a few days even after the firing incident as there had been noisy demonstrations by the JCT employees outside, who had gheraoed the residence of Thapar since October 27 night. Since then, the irate employees had been demanding the arrest of mill directors Thapar and Mukulika Sinha. However, the police had remained mum and did not comment on it till the departure of Thapar from Phagwara.

There are several questions being raised on the matter. Mill union leaders Ajay Yadav and Sunil Pandey have been asking, "Why did the police hide the registration of the FIR against Thapar till now? Were the police waiting for Thapar to escape?"

Notably, another FIR in the Provident Funds irregularities was also registered against directors Thapar and Sinha under Sections 406 and 409 of the IPC. Phagwara DSP Bharat Bhushan said that investigation in both the cases was on.

On October 27 night, tension had prevailed in JCT Colony when about 200 irate workers of JCT Mill Phagwara had gheraoed the residence of both the directors in protest against the non-payment of salaries, allowances, bonus and other dues lying pending for the last six months.

The protesters were demanding immediate arrest of both the directors for the alleged PF and ESI frauds. Meanwhile, despite registration of FIRs against the mill directors in alleged PF irregularities, no arrest has been made yet. The protesters are also alleging that Thapar was trying to sell the machinery of the mill and could escape.