Mangaluru: The strike called on by the tanker drivers working with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) reached fourth day with around 4,000 drivers parking tankers carrying gas at various parts of South India. The drivers have been protesting demanding compensation to the family of a driver who was allegedly beaten to death by the sons of influential politicians.
It may be recalled that on December 19, a driver named Sharavanan was attacked in Andhra Pradesh. He died on December 21 owing to injuries. No arrests have been made till date. Miffed with the police and HPCL, the drivers have been staging protest in front of the HPCL gate in Surathkal here.
While most of the tankers are parked in Mangaluru, about 1000 tankers have been parked in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. According to sources, no gas has been supplied to any part of South India in the past four days. The HPCL company officials have so far been unable to strike a deal with the drivers.
Meanwhile, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has joined hands with the drivers demanding compensation and arrest of the accused.
