The Bir Lachit Sena organized protests in Sivasagar on Saturday, voicing concerns over a recent gas leak and the alleged negligence of contractor SK Petro Services. The group presented three key demands to the company, which has committed to addressing them.
Among the demands, the Bir Lachit Sena called for adequate compensation for the family of a deceased worker employed by SK Petro Services. Additionally, they requested timely salary payments, inclusive of benefits such as the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), for all workers, alongside job opportunities for local Assamese youth based on their skills and merit. Shrinkhal Chaliha, the administrative secretary of Bir Lachit Sena, emphasized the importance of involving local and regional associations in the recruitment process instead of relying on oil field workers’ associations.
Abhijit Barpatragohain, manager of SK Petro Services, addressed the media and assured that the company would make every effort to meet the group’s demands and collaborate with the district administration to facilitate compensation. He stated, “We will move forward with the compensation process through the district administration as we alone are not authorized to grant it.”
Chaliha criticized Krishna Agarwal, the owner of SK Petro Services, for his absence at the gas leak site and accused him of exploiting his workers. In response, Barpatragohain explained that Agarwal was unable to visit due to health issues, as he was currently in Bangalore receiving treatment.
The Bir Lachit Sena has strongly condemned SK Petro Services for its alleged exploitation of labor and expressed support for any organization advocating for the welfare of the Assamese community and the working class. A senior leader from the organization remarked, “If SK Petro Services is blacklisted, we will work to ensure those currently employed are protected and rehabilitated.”
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/bir-lachit-sena-raises-three-demands-to-sk-petro-services-over-sivasagar-gas-leak-incident-1582009
Category: Assam,Featured
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-06-21 18:30:00
