PHAGWARA: Hundreds of workers from JCT Mills staged a massive protest today against the disconnection of electricity to the Thapar Colony within the mill premises. The demonstration, led by Union Chairman Sunil Pandey and President Ravi Sidhu, was also participated by the Shiv Sena (UBT) State Press Secretary Kamal Saroj and former municipal councillor Tripta Sharma.
Union President Ravi Sidhu alleged that around 4, 000 residents of Thapar Colony have been deprived of power for the second time. He emphasized that the workers, who have been employed at JCT Mills for over 25 years, have no pending electricity dues as payments are directly deducted from their bank accounts. However, power officials cite unpaid bills amounting to crores of rupees, leaving the workers and their families, including children and elderly residents, in distress.
The protest, which began around 10 AM, intensified in the afternoon when women workers during heated arguments with the cops locked the mill's main gate so that the machinery inside the mill could not be sold by the mill owners.
SHO city Amandeep Nahar tried to pacify the protesters in the presence of heavy police force and the protesters.SHO however assured to arrange the meeting of the workers with XEN Phagwara to restore the disconnected power supply in the residential colony.
The union gave the administration a 10-day ultimatum to restore electricity and ensure the final settlement of workers' dues.
Speaking at the protest, Kamal Saroj accused the police of siding with mill owner Samir Thapar instead of addressing the workers’ plight. Ravi Sidhu warned that if their demands are not met, the union would escalate the agitation by locking down government offices, including the power department.
Prominent union leaders including Vice President Shardanand Singh, General Secretary Naval Kishore Singh, and Media In-charge Madan Kumar Mishra joined the protest alongside hundreds of workers and their families. Women from the colony played a significant role in the demonstration, symbolizing their frustration by locking the gates.
A heavy police presence was deployed at the scene, but the protest remained peaceful. The workers resolved to continue their struggle until their demands are met.