Tamil Nadu worker killed in Libya, another injured
By IANSTuesday, February 22, 2011
CHENNAI - A man from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelvelli district, working as a contract worker in South Korean Hyundai’s project in Libya, was killed and another injured in the clashes between pro-democracy protesters and security forces in Libya, officials said Tuesday.
Murugaiah, 42, from Thalaivankottai village was killed when their residential camp caught fire due to firing, and his colleague, Ashok Kumar seriously injured, Tirunelveli District Collector M.Jayaraman told IANS, citing information from the victim’s widow, M.Vellathai, who was informed by Ashok Kumar Sunday.
He said Murugiah and Ashok Kumar were part of 31 people from the village on a two-year contract to erect power towers in Libya for Hyundai.
“I got a petition from a woman accompanied with the village leader in this connection today (Tuesday). I have asked the village leaders to give me a list of 31 people hailing from their village working in Libya along with their passport numbers. On receipt of these details, we can approach our embassy in Libya to ensure safety of our people there,” he said.
A sobbing Vellathai told reporters that the workers were allowed four days annual leave and they were supposed to come this month end.
As many as 61 people were killed in Libya’s capital Tripoli Monday, said witnesses. The toll, which the US-based Human Rights Watch group earlier put at 233, has now reportedly risen over 300.
Protests in the oil-rich country began Feb 14, but quickly gathered pace following a crackdown over a “Day of Rage” Feb 17. Demonstrators are said to have seized control of Benghazi city and several towns.
The unrest in Libya took a dramatic turn Monday when a huge anti-government march in Tripoli came under attack by security forces using fighter jets and live ammunition, witnesses told Al Jazeera.
–Indo Asian News Service
