Oil Country Tubular Ltd, a company engaged in the manufacture of oil and drilling equipment, has stopped functioning of the plant following labour unrest and murder of one of the company’s operations manager.
In a statement to BSE, the Telangana-based company informed about the outcome of emergency board meeting held on February 22 wherein it was decided to stop functioning of all operations following labour unrest.
“On February 17, a notice was given to a machine operator calling for explanation for the tooling damage by some workers. The operator and other workmen in a pre-planned manner assembled near the shop floor office of Mastan Rao, Senior Assistant General Manager (Operations), and entered the office and attacked him,” the company said.
“The shop engineers and Mastan Rao were manhandled causing grievous head injury. Rao was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state and later shifted to a multi-specialty hospital in Hyderabad. On February 20, he succumbed to head injuries. The management reviewed the CCTV footage and is aghast at the cold bloodedness and the dastardly act of the workmen,” the company stated.
Under these circumstances, the board of directors on Monday reviewed the situation and decided to stop the operations in view of the serious situation prevailing and to ensure the safety and lives of the executives.
The State Government is being requested to investigate the incident and take strong action in maintaining law and order and to ensure the safety of the managers, engineers, executives and staff and the property of the company.
Citing labour concerns, the OCTL management had in the past indicated that it has plans to relocate the plant to a coastal facility in Andhra Pradesh as it would be suitable for exports.