Tea work halts

TT, Alipurduar, Oct. 21: The management of Dima tea estate in Alipurduar today suspended work after labourers allegedly confined management staff in their offices, demanding payment of wages.

The management sent a notice to the district administration and police suspending "all activities in the garden with immediate effect".

According to a complaint filed around 8 am today by the garden management, a section of workers assembled in the garden office and shouted slogans, demanding the payment of wages on Saturday.

The workers "confined the management staff over their illogical demand of payment of wages. It was decided among the management and operating unions that the same would be paid on November 28," the complaint read.

The complaint said: "The errant workers shouted slogans and tried to abuse management personnel. The situation was so grave that the security of the managerial cadre was at stake."

During the suspension of work the workers will not be paid wages and only security, medical staff and emergency services would be available, according to the notice put up by the management.