Bonus talk for hill tea gardens in Kolkata on Nov 6, arrested HPEU activists released on bail

EOI, DARJEELING, NOVEMBER 2, 2024 : Two activists of the Himalayan Plantation Employees Union arrested on the charge of blocking and vandalizing the National Highway-110, previously NH-55, were released on bail by a Darjeeling court on Saturday. 

Sumit Dewan and Prasit Rai, owing allegiance to the HPEU, an independent trade union, were arrested on October 29 by the Jorebunglow Police. 

Apparently, Dewan and Rai were charged under section 189, 285, and 8B of the NH Act. Police had lodged a suo moto case after getting evidence of Rai and Dewan blocking the NH-110 at Sonada. 

The two were demanding a 20 percent bonus for the tea garden workers of the hills. The West Bengal Government had issued an advisory for a 16 percent bonus against the demand of a 20 percent bonus by the different trade unions. 

A meeting has been called by the State Labour Department on November 6 at Nabanna to settle the bonus issue. 

Four trade unions affiliated to the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, Gorkha National Liberation Front, Trinamool Congress, and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have been invited for the talk.