The Eastern Coalfields Limited today put up a 'Suspension of Work' notice in the JK Nagar colliery at Raniganj in Burdwan district citing lack of work atmosphere after the local area manager was beaten up allegedly by a union leader.
The ECL has also issued a circular that the mine, that falls under 'medium to large' category, could be closed down if the situation did not improve.
"Chunilal Mishra against whom an FIR was lodged in the local police station by ECL authorities have been threatening the officials and other employees. He is the prime accused behind beating up and injuring local area manager DK Singh. So, we have suspended work in the coal mine," Niladri Roy, Technical Director of ECL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, said.
On Friday, Mishra, secretary of INTTUC, workers' union of ruling Trinamool Congress, and his aides had assaulted Singh, according to an FIR lodged by ECL officials.
Mishra, an employee of the colliery, was suspended from work after the FIR was lodged, Roy said.
"Since then, Mishra and his aides have been creating trouble in JK Nagar colliery. Police too did not take any step against them. They are continuously threatening the employees and officials of the colliery," he alleged.
"In view of the deteriorating law and order condition in the region, ECL has issued a circular which stated that the management might be forced to close the mine if the situation continues," Roy said.
"The guilty has not been arrested despite an FIR being lodged at the local police station. He started threatening our officials and managers with dire consequence and it has become impossible to continue work," he said.
Additional Commissioner of Police of Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Biswajit Ghosh, said the police have received a complaint and have started investigation.
The colliery produces 400-450 tonnes of coal every day and 1,500 people work here, officials said, adding, if the mine was closed down, it would affect the company which has been suffering from reduced production due to monsoon and pollution issues.
