Protesting mob clashes with police at JNPT

A protesting mob of drivers and cleaners turned violent and clashed with the local police in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on Sunday.

Local sources in Nhava Sheva said it was the result of an ongoing strike of employees in one of the three ports — Gateway Terminal of India. “Around 1,500 to 2,000 workers were on strike, due to which the containers from across the country were left stranded. The drivers and cleaners were being extorted by local goons. Even the police harassed them,” a police official said. The incident began around 4 pm and eventually the police overpowered the mob around 7 pm.

“The mob took to stone pelting and set a police van ablaze at the ‘Y’ junction near the Bharat Petroleum outlet. They also ransacked the Port Users Building police chowki on JNPT road. A senior police official was injured in the incident,” the official added.