13 ex-employees, demanding payment of dues, file police complaint against the officer

More than 13 navy staff, who were "forced to retire" last September, have registered a complaint with the Cuffe Parade police station against Commander Rajiv Tandon, accusing the officer of threatening to kill them and denying payment of their dues.


The retired Navy security guards on a daylong hunger strike on the premises of the Navy office protesting against Commander Rajiv Tandon's alleged misbehaviour

On September 1, 2010, the Navy management had forced 13 staff, including security guards, gardeners and cleaners, to relinquish their services as they had allegedly crossed retirement age.

But the protesters said all of them had at least one or two years of services left.u00a0 The management had promised to clear their dues within a month.

Six months have passed since their "forced retirement" last September, but the management is yet to clear the pending amount.

On Wednesday, they met Commandant Rajiv Tandon regarding payment of their dues. But instead of listening to their problems, the officer threatened them with dire consequences.

"Tum log maro ya jiyo, mera sir mat khao. Dubara pareshan kiya to ek ek ko bhoon dunga. Tumhara due kabhi nahi milega. Jo karna hai kar lo (Don't eat my head, I don't care whether you live or die.

But if you dare bothering me again with your stupid problems, I would kill all of you. Do whatever you want to, but you will never get your dues)," K Jha, one of the retired security guards, quoted Tandon as saying.

Protesting against Tandon's unsavoury behavior, the retired employees also sat on daylong hunger strike on the premises of the Navy office.

"This is too much. Tandon is very arrogant. The Navy management is neither paying their dues nor giving
them retirement benefits," said S B Damale, the general secretary of General Labour Union.

"We have decided to show the black flag to FOMAG (flag officers of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa) during their visit on February 8," said a retired employee.

J K Thorat, senior inspector, the Cuffe Parade police station, said, "The (retired) Navy men had come to the police station."

Despite several attempts Tandon could not be reached for comment. When contacted Commander A K Sharma, Chief Administrator, Naval area, said, "I do not want to talk to you on this issue."