This is an archive article published on March 16, 2024

Opinion March 16, Forty Years Ago: Port Workers Strike

One person was killed and some others injured in a firing incident that in the Amritsar district court compound when four alleged extremists were let off by the court in a case.

The alleged extremists — all belonging to the All India Sikh Students Federation — were greeted by a large number of their supporters on acquittal.

By: Editorial

March 16, 2024 07:00 AM IST First published on: Mar 16, 2024 at 07:00 AM IST

About three lakh port and dock workers began an indefinite strike in support of their wage claims, affecting work at all 10 major ports from Calcutta to Kandla. Security personnel stood guard at important installations at all ports. After negotiations with government to settle disputes failed, strike leaders left for the port areas to guide the strikers.

Firing Outside Court

One person was killed and some others injured in a firing incident that in the Amritsar district court compound when four alleged extremists were let off by the court in a case.

While the police said that two of the four acquitted were wanted in some other case as well, there was confusion as a result of which, two of them managed to escape. The alleged extremists — all belonging to the All India Sikh Students Federation — were greeted by a large number of their supporters on acquittal.

MP Reverses Policies

The Madhya Pradesh government decided to reverse its earlier policy of penalising doctors and other officers and employees of the health department for not fulfilling their sterilisation quotas. The government also revoked the suspensions of many doctors, who were punished for “negligence in the implementation of family planning programme”. The sudden volte-face was due to a fear of adverse public reaction.

Brahmachari’s Arrest

Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari was arrested in Jammu. The action followed the completion of his interrogation in connection with the seizure of 500 Spanish gun barrels from his Shiva Gun Factory. It indicates that a challan will be presented against the Swami in the court of the chief judicial magistrate in the next few days.