The fish processing unit Shree Ulka LLP at Thokur, where five labourers died after they fell into an underground waste collection tank on April 17, has given an assurance that it will pay an interim compensation of ₹15 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
The letter of undertaking — copies of which were sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru Police Commissioner, and released to the media by the district administration on Tuesday — said the compensation would be given as per the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923.
It said the initial compensation would be paid to the nominees of each of the deceased within a fortnight of the confirmation of the nominees. “If the compensation as per the Act exceeds the declared compensation, the rest of amount will be paid additionally to nominees accordingly through RTGS,” the letter said.
The unit, located at IP-48, Part A and B under Mangaluru Special Economic Zone, said that mothers are the nominees of three of the deceased, and with respect to two others, the compensation would be paid to their fathers. The deceased are from West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State president Muneer Katipalla said in a statement on Tuesday that the State Government and the fish processing unit should together provide ₹50 lakh as compensation, including the interim compensation announced by the unit, to the families of each of the deceased.
Injured workers recovering
Police, quoting doctors, said three injured workers – Hasan Ali, Mohammed Karibullah and Hafizullah – are recovering in a private hospital. The cause of death of five workers will be ascertained after getting the post-mortem reports, police said.
The Deputy Commissioner, K.V. Rajendra, said he has directed the Departments of Labour and Factories and Boilers to conduct an audit of the violations in the unit as prima facie several violations pertaining to the safety protocols of the workers and in the process of their recruitment have been noticed.
The bodies of the victims were sent by road to Bengaluru on Monday after conducting the post-mortem. They were flown to West Bengal from Bengaluru on Tuesday. The DYFI said that the bodies have reached their native places. The police have registered a case against the management of the unit, owned by Raju of Mumbai, under Sections 337, 338 and 304 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
