Protesters stop ambulance, keep bodies on road demanding Vizag plant be shut

Hundreds of individuals belonging to RR Venkatapuram and adjoining villages on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday gathered on the LG Polymers Ltd, demanding quick closure of the plant from the place there was a leakage of toxic Styrene fuel vapour on Thursday day that claimed 12 lives.

Tension prevailed on the plant within the morning as agitated individuals, returning to their villages after two days, stormed the plant and tried to barge into the premises elevating slogans demanding that it’s shut instantly and moved elsewhere.

Around the identical time, ambulances carrying the our bodies of a few of the victims from King George Hospital mortuary to the villages for cremation had been passing by. The offended villagers stopped them and saved the our bodies on the highway in entrance of the corporate gate to stage a dharna.

The police had a troublesome time controlling the protesters even because the power was mobilised in massive numbers in view of Director General of Police Gautam Sawang’s go to to the plant.

A lady protester fell on the ft of the DGP demanding justice for the individuals by taking quick motion towards the corporate. However, she was taken away by the ladies constables posted on the spot. The DGP was escorted out of the premises with heavy police safety.

“It has been two days since the cases were booked against the management of LG Polymers. But no action was taken against any of the company officials till date. We shall not allow the company to run under any circumstances,” an offended villager instructed the reporters.

With the scenario getting tense, the police needed to resort to lathi-charge to disperse them. They bundled scores of protesters into vans and took them away to the Gopalapatnam police station. But inside no time, many others assembled on the spot and gate-crashed into the corporate premises.

Visakhapatnam police commissioner RK Meena rapidly intervened and, with the assistance of further forces, managed to power the protesters out of the corporate premises. The police managed to shift the our bodies from the spot to Venkatapuram village for cremation.

State minister for tourism M Srinivasa Rao and different YSR Congress social gathering leaders tried to persuade the offended villagers, saying that the federal government would make efforts to see that the LG Polymers is moved out.

“The government has appointed a high-powered committee to probe the accident and take stern action against the company. Please bear with us,” Srinivasa Rao appealed to the villagers with folded arms.

The DGP instructed reporters that the Styrene fuel leakage was underneath full management and it might be neutralised by night.

“We are not here to protect anybody. The investigation has begun and we shall take action based on the investigation. There is no need for the villagers to get agitated,” he mentioned.