Bhilai, Apr 28, 2019: A 48-year-old contract labour died in suspicious condition at Bhilai Steel Plant on the intervening night of Sunday. The deceased was Manchu Raju (48), who worked for the contractor Vinay India Erectors in the Coke Oven Area. He had gone on general shift duty on Saturday and at around 21:50 hrs, is family received information that he has was taken to Main Medical Post and then has been admitted at JLN Hospital, Sector 9. When the family members reached the hospital, they came o know that the patient has been admitted in ICU. At around 05:00 hrs on Sunday, the patient was declared dead.
Manchu’s wife informed that her husband had gone to duty as usual on Saturday. When he did not return home till 21:00 hrs, she inquired on telephone and was told that Manchu is doing some important task due to which he got late. The labour generally was usually stopped till late due to some or the other work and sometimes he was called on duty on Sundays also. Manchu had kept a separate pair of clothes for work place and he changed while coming to home.
Manchu’s wife informed that when her husband was admitted in the hospital, he was wearing the clothes of work place. This confirms that he was at work when the incident occurred. Manchu’s daughter Barkha informed that during counseling at ICU, the doctors had informed that Manchu’s has suffered serious injury on ribs and his condition was critical. This indicates towards some industrial mishap which inflicted fatal injury to her father.
Kin of the deceased informed that neither the officials of BSP management nor the representatives of the contractor came after Manchu’s death. There was nobody to explain the circumstances in which the labour suffered injuries and succumbed during treatment. Finding no other alternative, the kin approached local Police Station seeking justice.
This incident raises several burning questions and is indicating towards the unexpected and inhuman culture at the plant. If the labour had gone on general shift duty, then which authority gave the orders to stop him in second shift also? Why is the management avoiding giving clarification and explaining the facts to the bereaved family? If the patient was taken to hospital in Duty Dress, then the question arises whether the incident occurred at work place or some where else. What was the condition of the victim when he was taken to Main Medical Post? If there was fatal injury on ribs, then where and how the mishap occurred, are some of the burning questions arising from this suspicious death.