Itahari, September 22:

Three workers of two industries at Duhabi in Sunsari died due to lack of medicare as they were not paid their salary, provident funds and grants for a long time.

Ramji Chaudhari of Hattimuda (Morang) and Soharam Tharu (40) of Amrahi Ikrahi, who used to work in the Narayan Vegetable Industry, and Sadas Chaudhari (40) of Siswani Badahara, who used to work at the Annapurna Soap and Chemicals Industries, died of fever and pneumonia, said secretary of the eastern region chapter of the Nepal Trade Union Congress, Jyoti Koirala, adding that families of the deceased workers are finding it difficult to eke out a living.

The Narayan Vegetable Industry and Annapurna Soap and Chemicals Industries, based at Duhabi- 4, have been closed for two years, said general secretary of the Nepal Industry Workers’ Congress, Gulab Chand Chaudhari. Salary, provident fund and grant of some 200 permanent workers, which adds up to Rs 1.5 crore, have not been paid.

The two industries, run by the Manturam Agrawal Group, closed on December 23, 2004 after four Agrawal brothers, proprietors of the group, were arrested on the charge of cheating banks.

The Agrawal brothers have not been released as they could not pay Rs nine crore deposit demanded by the Supreme Court for their release.

The Agrawal group had taken Rs 50 crores from the Rastriya Banijya Bank (Rani) and the Nepal Bank (Biratnagar).