Calcutta, July 23: Calcutta airport authorities today requested the state government to ensure law and order, a day after six senior officials were gheraoed for six hours by a Trinamul Congress-backed staff union.
Airport director B.P. Sharma met home secretary G.D. Gautama and briefed him about yesterday’s incident. “We have also written to the North 24-Parganas’ administration requesting it to take steps to ensure law and order at the airport,” a senior airport official said.
The officials cited orders issued by Calcutta and Delhi high courts in 2000 and 2006, respectively, in which demonstrations and agitations within 500 metres of any international airport were banned.
Yesterday, 50-odd airport employees, all members of the Trinamul-backed Airport Authority of India Staff Workers’ Union, had gheraoed two general managers from 1pm to 7pm demanding that disciplinary action against five employees be revoked.
The agitators also demanded that two contract workers whose entry permits to the terminal buildings had been withdrawn following charges of pilferage, be allowed access to the cargo handling area.
A state government official said: “Sharma informed the home secretary about the incident and also expressed his grievances.” Gautama also heads the anti-hijacking unit of the airport.
“We have sought the help of the police and security agencies to maintain law and order at the airport so that passengers are not inconvenienced,” an airport official said.
Leaders of the Trinamul union alleged that the authorities had not sought the government’s intervention when Citu supporters used to “stage agitations regularly”.
“We’ll wait till Monday before deciding on our next course of action,” said Barun Natta, the leader of the Trinamul staff union.
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