Policemen outside the jute mill. (Main Uddin Chisti)

Chakchaka (Cooch Behar), March 13: About 1,200 workers of Kamakshi Jute Industries, the largest unit in the industrial estate here, revolted against the Citu and went on an indefinite strike today, demanding higher wages.

In view of the strike, the management declared indefinite suspension of work.

“We have been asking the Citu leadership for a long time to bargain with the management for an increase in the wages. But the union leaders were bought off by the mill owners. We have, therefore, decided to come together and launch the agitation apolitically,” said Amitabha Deb, a worker leading the strike.

The strike by the mill workers has come as a major embarrassment to the Citu and its parent organisation CPM. The party will have to try hard to regain its dominance as industries minister Nirupam Sen is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a Rs 150 crore jute park here on March 20.

Abani Das, the general secretary of the Citu-affiliated mill union, however, claimed that only a handful of workers had left the organisation. “Only 30 to 40 workers are on strike and their allegations are baseless. We have already written to the labour commissioner with regard to the hike in the wages, besides holding talks with the management. The strike is illegal and undemocratic,” said Das.

Forest minister Ananta Roy is the president of the Citu unions in the area.

The industrial estate began functioning in 2001and there are currently 34 units in the 54-acre complex.

Deepak Mundra, the secretary of the Cooch Behar Industrial Welfare Association, said if the owner-worker relationship turned sour, it would not be good for anyone.

“We were forced to declare suspension of work as the employees have become undisciplined, affecting production,” said Yogeshwar Shukla, vice-president, production, Kamakshi Jute Industries.