100 held after clashes in Liwa labour complex
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Scores of workers were injured and more than 100 arrested following sporadic clashes between groups over four days in a labour accommodation in the Hamim area of Liwa.
According to reports reaching here, the clashes between Pakistani, Nepali and Indian workers began on September 6 over queuing up for food and continued till September 9 when embassy officials from Abu Dhabi intervened.
“We know at least 12 Pakistanis have sustained injuries. One of the injured is still in a hospital while 11 with minor injuries were discharged from the hospital the same day,” said Lango.
The embassy official, who has been shuttling between Hamim and Abu Dhabi, said the situation was now under control with the help of the police, officials of the company that owns the labour accommodation and embassy officials.
Lango also said the number of injured was higher among Nepali and Indian workers but they were discharged from the hospital.
He also said the embassy was in constant touch with police authorities in Liwa and Beda Zayed and company officials as well as the Pakistani workers who have been shifted from the accommodation facility to Beda Zayed, the headquarter of Al Gharbia (formerly known as Western Region of Abu Dhabi).
When contacted, the Nepal Embassy also confirmed the incident but they had no precise information. “We don’t have the exact information how the fight began and how many Nepali workers were injured. However, we are in touch with our workers to provide them all protection and care,” said Labour Attache Deepak Adikari.
According to the Indian Embassy, they are also in touch with workers and company officials to get updates. “On Sunday, we visited the workers to learn about their welfare and also met with the company and police officials,” said Anand Bardan, a senior official at the embassy.
About injuries among Indian workers, without giving any number, he said there were only workers with minor injuries and released from the hospital.
When contacted, a senior official of the company declined to comment on the incident, which is now being investigated by the Abu Dhabi Police with a report expected to be released next week.
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