Bhubaneswar: As the strike by state fire brigade personnel entered the third day Wednesday, the government placed six fire personnel under suspension on charge of dereliction of duty.
The state government action came in wake of two major fire incidents at Dasapalla in Nayagarh and another at Baliapal in Balasore district.
A three-year-old boy died of drowning in a well at Chitroda of Mayurbhanj district Tuesday as the fire personnel allegedly refused to attend the emergency calls.
“I am compelled to place six personnel under suspension as they failed to attend the emergency calls. Two personnel each in Dasapalla, Baliapal and Chitroda incidents have been found guilty and placed under suspension,” Director General (Fire Service) BK Sharma said.
Sharma added when the government is willing to have discussion with the agitating personnel, they should attend the emergency calls. No one will be allowed to suffer from fire incident in the state.
“I have assured them that the government will sympathetically consider their demands. I also appeal them to call off their agitation and not prevent others who are willing to attend the emergency calls,” Sharma appealed.
Stating that fire personnel deal with life and property of masses, Sharma said, “They should attend the emergency calls and come to the rescue of people on humanitarian ground.”
The agitating fire personnel, however, said that their grievances have been ignored by the government for years.
“We went to strike after giving adequate time to the government. They do not listen to our genuine demands,” said Ramakant Paika, one of the leaders of the agitating fire personnel.
Paika said they called the indefinite strike Monday. More than 5,000 firemen, havildars, drivers from all 341 fire stations have joined the protests.
Akshay Pradhan, another prominent leader of the agitating fire personnel, said the demands by the striking personnel include salaries at par with the state police after implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, regularisation of about 1,000 contractual employees, and disbursal of pension of retired employees.