JORHAT, Dec 18 - The indefinite lockout declared in Bogidhola Tea Estate under Numaligarh police outpost in Golaghat district continued for the fifth day today as the proposed conciliatory meeting between the management and workers� union under the aegis of the district administration to discuss the matter could not take place.
The Assistant Labour Commissioner of Golaghat Budhin Hazarika told The Assam Tribune that representatives from neither the management side nor North East Tea Association (a tea planters� body) � as the garden is a member of NETA � and also from the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha � did not turn up for the scheduled meeting convened by the Labour Department.
Hazarika said the next date for holding discussion on finding ways to lift the lockout from the garden has been fixed on December 21. Over 10 tea garden workers were injured after two owners (both brothers) � Sudhir Roy and Samir Roy � of Bogidhola TE reportedly fired at the protesting workers at their bungalow on December 13 resulting in 10 workers sustaining bullet injuries.
The workers were protesting against alleged non-payment of bonus to the workers. Both Sudhir and Samir were arrested and sent to judicial custody on December 14.
The garden, owned by Bogidhola Tea and Trading Co Pvt Ltd, has 350 workers.
On July 17 this year, the office of the ALC had filed a case against the management of Bogidhola TE on charges of several violations under the Plantation Labour Act, 1951.
