PATIALA: The construction work on the 6th unit of Guru Gobind Singh thermal plant, Ropar, on Feb.23, came to a standstill when the engineers of the plant ceased work in protest against the alleged torture of an assistant executive engineer, T.S.Kalra by the police.

Padamjit Singh, general secretary of the PSEB Engineers Association, told newsmen here that the engineers would continue to boycott construction work till suitable action against the guilty policemen was taken. The association has demanded an inquiry into the incident and related events.

Padamijit alleged that the police took Kalra to the CIA torture cell and gave him inhuman treatment on the charge of theft in the store he was maintaining. He alleged that third degree methods were used against the engineer even when he was out of station, availing a station leave, on Feb.19, the day the theft took place. The association leader alleged that the theft was the handiwork of an organized gang of thieves. He said the material had been stolen from right under the nose of the security staff where a full battalion of security personnel is deputed for watch and ward.

Padamjit Singh said that it was strange how the thief’s managed to transport heavy items and 26feetlong condenser tubes on a railway wagon, despite the deployment of security men; the material stolen from the store is valued around Rs.15 lakh. Padamjit Singh said that Punjab police had not so far been able to catch this gang involved in theft. He said that the police had also not questioned any of the security personnel on duty that night.

The association has sent telegrams to the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Irrigation and Power Minister to order an inquiry into the whole episode. The association has also urged the chairman of the board, H.S, Baweja, to intervene and ensure that no engineer was subjected to inhuman treatment. Padamijit Singh has threatened that if the government fails to take action, the agitation would spread at state level.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 26, 1993