BELAGAVI
A 45-year-old textile mill worker died due to consumption of poison late Sunday night, sparking off protests among protesting textile mill workers.
Kallappa Balappa Bolu, who had consumed poison during the agitation of the employees of a textiles mills in front of Deputy Commissioner N Jayaram on April 13, died in the district hospital after all the efforts by doctors to save Bolu failed.
The textile mills was locked on March 17 due to heavy losses and other technical reasons. On April 13, Bolu while protesting in the rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office had consumed highly poisonous pesticide used for cotton crop. He was then shifted to the district hospital.
Hospital sources said Bolu was in a state of depression after the mill was closed. The incident occurred when hundreds of workers of the mills staged a protest in front of the DC’s office under the leadership of union leader Bhimashi Jarkiholi. Workers, including their family members, arrived at the DC’s office at 12.30 pm.
The body of the deceased that was shifted to the mortuary of the District Hospital was not received by the family members and workers till late Monday evening, as the workers demanding re-opening of the mills staged a 'dharna' in the hospital premises.
