Orissa company declares lock-out after its senior officer burnt to death

Days after the deputy general manager of a private company was burnt to death by angry workers at Titlagarh, the company declared a lock-out of the plant today.

Graphite India Ltd of Powmex steel division declared lock-out of the plant till further orders, district labour officer, Pradip Bhoi said.

The lock-out notice was put up on the main gate of the plant with a large number of policemen guarding the plant.

Altogether 360 workers, including 114 contractual labourers of the plant, were on dharna in front of the plant for the last few days to press their demands which included pay hike and regularisation of the contractual workers.

RS Roy, deputy general manager (operations) of the plant was burnt to death when his official jeep was set ablaze outside the factory premises by agitating workers while he was on way to his house for lunch on March 3.

Six employees of the plant have so far been arrested in connection with the incident, superintendent of police Ajay Sarangi said.