Southern States - Kerala   

Watchman killed in explosion at estate

By Our Staff Reporter

IDUKKI Dec. 22. One plantation employee was killed and ten persons were injured in an explosion at Karinthiri near Elappara on Sunday morning.

According to police, the explosion was the result of a fight between employees of the Heliburia plantation and people who encroached upon the plantation.

The deceased has been identified as Shaji (31), a watchman with the plantation. Eight persons who were seriously injured in the explosion have been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

The dispute at the Heliburia plantation has been going on for some time. Some of the interested persons were trying to encroach on the highly productive areas of coffee, pepper and vanila plantations under the guise of taking over the perceived surplus land in the area.

Last year also these interests had tried to intrude, but the attempt was foiled by the plantation labour.

According to witnesses, on Saturday night the same group entered the area and harvested the crop.

The Plantation labourers, who knew about the intrusion, waited for them at the boundary. Being confronted, the intruders hurled country bomb and escaped.

The action of the local police who conducted a raid on the houses of the plantation workers just before the intrusion of the vested interests has come under criticism by trade union leaders.

Plantations in Idukki district have been in the news for quite some time following the closure of many estates and the loss of job for the labourers.

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