Tension prevailed for some time near the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) on Wednesday when hundreds of workers came out, demanding that they be sent back to their native places. At one point, they pelted stones at a patrolling vehicle, injuring three officials, including an ASI.
Police were deployed in large numbers on the premises where about 2,400 workers working for L&T and Shapoorji Pallonji are staying.
Situation was brought under under control when MLA T. Jayaprakash Reddy, Collector M. Hanumantha Rao and Superintendent of Police S. Chandrasekhar Reddy held talks with the workers and pacified them.
According to the police, a large number of workers, migrants from different parts of the country, are involved in the construction activity on the IITH premises. Alleging that they had not been paid for the past three months, the workers gathered and raised slogans against the contractor. They also alleged that the food supplied to them was of poor quality and showed the heaps of food thrown into the dustbin on the premises. Even the toilets were in very bad condition, they said.
As the situation was going out of control, one of the contractors informed the police. A large number of police personnel, including SP S. Chandrasekhar Reddy, rushed to the spot. By the time the police reached, there was a huge gathering and some of the agitated workers indulged in stone pelting. Three policemen were injured in the attack and shifted to a hospital.
Police brought the situation under control by using force. Later, police pacified the agitators with some of them taken to the Collectorate for discussions.
“We have sorted the issue amicably. The pending wages for two months would be paid by Thursday evening. Representatives of the construction companies have accepted that. The work would commence from Friday,” the MLA, the Collector and the SP told reporters after the meeting.
The Collector said many of the workers wanted to go to their native places but due to lockdown they were not allowed.
