May 28: A jute mill in Hooghly that employs 3,000 workers today announced a "temporary suspension of work" citing a shortage of raw materials.

The management of Northbrook Jute Mill at Champdani, 35km from Calcutta, said in the closure notice: "The management tried its level best to run the mill in full swing. But due to almost total unavailability of raw jute in the market, it is very difficult to run the mill in a proper way and in full capacity.

"Owing to the scarcity of raw jute, most of the machines remain idle and it is regretted to mention that a large number of workmen of various departments are not getting jobs."

Around 1,000 employees of the mill who came for the morning shift at 6am were "shocked" to see the notice on the gate declaring "temporary suspension of work".

The workers, led by Citu and INTTUC officials, blocked GT Road for nearly five hours.

"Employees cannot be rendered jobless for the management's fault," Citu leader Dilip Paswan said.

INTTUC leader Rambabu Sahu said: "The management, not the employees, should be blamed for the shortage of raw jute."

The deputy commissioner of labour, Tirthankar Sengupta, said a tripartite meeting involving the company, workers and the government would be held on Tuesday to find a solution.

Calls and messages to Prakash Choraria, the owner of Northbrook Jute Mill, remained unanswered.

In 2014, Northbrookchief executive H.K. Maheshwari was battered to death with bricks by a group of workers after the management had proposed to shorten the working hours citing a paucity of orders.

Sources said many jute mills in the state were facing a shortage of orders.