Jalpaiguri, Oct. 7: Just days after tea workers blamed the management for abandoning gardens and deserting them, planters today trained their guns on the tea estate workers, especially those of Mechpara, Dima, Raimatang and Atiabari.

Pranjal Neog, assistant secretary of the Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association, said: “The labour unions are criticising the managers of abandoning the estates without knowing the truth. The managers of the gardens had gone to arrange for funds to pay the labourers. The management of the Mechpara garden had distributed the bonus on September 26. Wages were due on October 4. Because that was a holiday, the wages were to be paid on October 7, but the labourers, for no reason, confined the managerial staff, leaving them with no option but to announce lock out. The unions should work for the interest of the industry instead of wasting time hurling baseless allegations against the management.”

Citing the condition of the industry, Neog said “union leaders should work with the management to get the industry out of the mess”.