Diamond workers protest for better wages, shot at

BLOOD DIAMOND: Diamond workers throw stones in Bhavnagar during their agitation for better pay.

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Bhavnagar/ New Delhi: A worker died and at least six others were injured when a private security guard fired on diamond cutters protesting for higher wages in Bhavnagar city of Gujarat.

The trouble began on Sunday morning when around 40,000 workers demanding a hike wages threw stones and set some cars on fire in Kumbudwadi locality, the site of several diamond polishing units.

A security guard of a diamond polishing unit opened fire on the workers before police arrived and chased the agitators away.

Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police Anupam Gehlot told CNN-IBN police have detained the security guard who opened fire and 50 protesters. Gehlot said that the city is peaceful and the agitating workers have dispersed.

The dead diamond factory worker has been identified as Vijay Arjunbhai Zapadia.

Diamond workers across Gujarat are demanding better wages after their counterparts in Surat were given a 20 per cent pay hike by the Surat Diamond Association. Workers in Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Amreli and Bhavnagar started protests on Friday.

Scores of diamond workers on Friday tried to shut shops in Bapunagar locality of Ahmedabad. Police caned them and detained eight persons for disturbing peace.

Hundreds of diamond workers in Rajkot struck work on Friday to press for a 30 per cent hike in wages. Nearly 3,000 workers engaged joined the day-long strike.

Diamond workers in Amreli took out a rally and gave a memorandum to the district collector.

Vithal Mendpara, president of the Bhavnagar Diamond Association, told PTI companies had agreed to hike wages but workers want salaries matching the number of hours they put in.