Mumbai: Following the Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) raid at the octroi check-posts on Saturday, the octroi workers have gone on a strike on Monday.
Nearly 3000 of them are protesting the arrest of their seven colleagues at the check nakas at Dahisar, Mulund and Vashi.
Trade Union Leader, Sharad Rao says, "ACB officials harassed the octroi officials unnecessarily and even filed bogus cases against them."
Justifying the protest, Rao said the ACB could not find any evidence against the octroi officials and yet continued to harass them for more than eight hours.
We are protesting because the ACB conducted raids without informing the Municipal Commissioner. They have violated the Bombay Municipal Act, added Rao.
"Hospital and conservancy workers will join the strike if the ACB officials do not withdraw these cases," threatened Rao.
With the protestors on strike, a number of people are being adversely affected. R B Pal, a trucker says, "We?ve been waiting for two days and there is still no arrangement for food or water. Both the company and myself are incurring losses."
He is not the only one. There are thousands of trucks that are waiting for a clearance at the Dahisar Check posts to enter the city.
Deputy Collector and Assessor for BMC, Pathan Abdul Rehman has an explanation for the situation. "It is not possible to check every vehicle at this stage, so we believe the importer?s agents for the invoices and clear the goods."
The Trade Union Leaders have threatened to continue with the strike if their men are not freed.
Meanwhile, BMC is incurring losses pegged at Rs 6 crore a day.
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