Tiruvallur: Guest worker’s death at L&T Shipyard dormitory triggers protest; police fire tear gas

CHENNAI: The death of a guest worker after an accidental fall from the first floor of the staff accommodation of a private company in Kattupalli near Ennore in the wee hours of Tuesday triggered unrest, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

The deceased was identified as Amar Prakash of Uttar Pradesh, who was working a welder on contract at a fabrication company for the last one year. Sources said Prakash, who was inebriated when he tried to enter his room on the first floor, slipped and fell. He was rushed to the government hospital, but was declared brought-dead.

On Tuesday morning, the workers staged a protest demanding adequate compensation for the kin of the deceased. As hundreds of workers gathered on the roads, a police team reached the scene to prevent the situation from escalating.

Some of the workers pelted stones at the police and also damaged public property. Avadi City police personnel brought the situation under control by resorting to lathi-charge and rounded up 100 workers. According to a senior officer, 30 of them were booked for rioting and were remanded in judicial custody. Later in the day, Prakash’s brother reached Chennai and received the body after the formal procedures, including port-mortem examination, were over.

Further, the police have taken steps to enumerate the guest workers employed at various companies in the industrial area following the incident.