'Some of our colleagues are not reachable', claims agitating ST workers

The NCP president's Silver Oak residence was attacked by ST workers yesterday. About 150 to 200 employees reached near Pawar's house. They shouted slogans. Protesters have made sensational claims as accusations are being leveled against the ruling party and the opposition. The police escorted us out of Azad Maidan in the middle of the night under heavy security. We were dropped off at the CSMT station. Several employees were injured during the police operation. While some of our employees disappeared. We are trying to contact them. But they are not reachable. The protesters raised the question of where our colleagues have gone and where they have been kept. The protesters took a stand that we will not leave CSMT until their colleagues return.

We have been protesting peacefully in Azad Maidan for the last 5 months. But now we were suddenly thrown out. There is no electricity or running water in Azad Maidan. We were escorted to the CSMT station under tight police security. On the one hand, the police should send us at Azad Maidan again, or we will not leave from CSMT station. Some of our colleagues have disappeared. "We need to know where they are," ST worker said.

Th police have detained 5 of the ST employees and have been taken into custody who were protesting at Azad maidan. Therefore, ST employees have started shouting slogans at the CSMT station. ST workers have been protesting at Azad Maidan for the last five months over the issue of merger.

Mumbai police had instructed ST workers to evacuate Azad Maidan after ST workers staged agitation at the residence of NCP president Sharad Pawar. However, the ST staff refused to go out. The ST staff had taken a stand that we would not go out till lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte tells us. However, at midnight, the police took action and evacuated 250 employees, out of which 5 employees have been arrested by the police. After being evacuated from Azad Maidan, ST workers have started their protest at the CSMT railway station.