In this intense fast that is on for the past 8 days, 68 jawans have been hospitalised so far.
On the 8th day of their ongoing fast, 125 jawans of the Gujarat Industrial Security Force (GISF) gave up water on Monday to intensify their protest. In addition to these jawans, 15 female employees of GISF also gave up drinking water.
In this intense fast that is on for the past 8 days, 68 jawans have been hospitalised so far.
For over a week, more than 3,000 GISF employees went on strike, after not being included in the government's recent pay hike list for other government employees. Of these jawans, more than 800 have sat on an indefinite fast at Pathik Ashram in Gandhinagar.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 family members of these fasting employees also joined them in their protest and fast.
Gujarat Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), which is supporting the GISF protest, alleged that the government has remained totally insensitive towards the burning issue, which has compelled the employees to give up food as well as water.
"No one from the government has approached us so far. They must realise the problems faced by these employees due to a limited salary," said Amrish Patel, president of GFTU.
"These jawans are surviving on a salary of Rs 4,600 per month. They must be included in the benefits and pay hikes announced for the other 8 lakh employees," said Patel.
According to him, more than 150 former army men have also joined the protest as a show of solidarity towards the GISF jawans. "These ex-army men are paid more than these jawans, but they have joined the strike to give the GISF men moral support," said Patel. The ex-army men are paid Rs7,000 plus pension per month.
More grenades found
Naroda police recovered three hand grenades on Monday morning near Kharicut canal while doing 'panchnama' of the incident. This comes after some boys had fished out an empty case of hand grenade on Sunday. Naroda police inspector BJ Brahmbhatt asked his men to scan the area thoroughly. Following preliminary search, police officials dug deep in the mud close to the canal and were shocked to find three hand grenades, two of which were live, while one was an empty case.
Realising the danger and situation's gravity, Naroda police immediately informed the Bomb Disposal Squad and crime branch officials for further investigation. Top officials inspected the hand grenades and decided to dispose them through explosion near an abandoned land.
According to them, these bombs might have been thrown here by someone to be disposed off. However, they also believe that these bombs might have been dropped here accidentally during a mock drill which was done few years back. A day before, some young boys fishing at Kharicut canal found the empty hand grenade case.
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