By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 15, 2016 : The Paradip Port Stevedores’ Association (PPSA), the three-decade long body of stevedoring firms, on Tuesday strongly flayed allegations that murder of Seaways Shipping Private Ltd (SSPL) executive Mahendra Swain was outcome of stevedoring rivalry.

Addressing media persons on Tuesday, PPSA general secretary Antaryami Patnaik said the Utkal Stevedoring Association (USA), which has been levelling such accusations, is “irrational, illogical and without any basis”.

USA is barely a year-old and has only six members whereas PPSA has been in operation for the last 30 years with 28 members, he added.

Patnaik further alleged that the USA is resorting to such conspiracy at the behest of SSPL to target the PPSA in general and its member, Orissa Stevedores Ltd (OSL) in particular.

PPSA member and one of the directors of OSL, Charchit Mishra made it clear that linking OSL-JSPL dispute over handling of shipments at Paradip Port by USA is completely motivated.

“Neither PPSA nor OSL has anything to do with the October 26 incident. OSL had last handled JSPL cargo in 2014. The contract was terminated on May 22, 2014 and JSPL awarded the same to Sahara Engineering Pvt Ltd (member of PPSA) in November 2014”, Mishra said adding that his company never complained about awarding the contract to Sahara Engineering Pvt Ltd,

However, PPSA took it strongly when JSPL appointed Seaways Shipping Pvt Ltd (SSPL) as it’s handling agent in July 2015. “But with the intervention of the district authorities the issue was resolved and SSPL was allowed to handle the cargo without any hiccups and after that stevedoring work at Paradip Port has been smooth. There is no dispute at all,’’ he remarked.

Mishra said OSL and PPSA are cooperating with police investigation into the murder. “We would like the truth to come out and are cooperating but all angles must be covered in the probe,” he said adding, the matter taken up by Dumper Owners’ Association over Swain’s business practices must also be investigated by the police.

Dharmaditya Patnaik, another member of PPSA, demanded fair and transparent probe into the murder by the police. “Police should also look into angles which include alleged unethical and illegal practices by Swain of duping local youths through false promises for engaging their tippers in Paradip Port work”, he added.

S K Khaleid, another member of PPSA, also reiterated the fact that the rivalry between OSL and JSPL, which had hired SSPL as its stevedoring agent, is baseless. “JSPL does not matter to PPSA which has been operating for the last three to four decades. JSPL’s cargo accounts for 1.5 million tonne which is a minuscule part of the total cargo handled – standing at about 70 million tonne – at Paradip,’’ he added.

Mishra, son of Mahimananda Mishra, OSL managing director clarified that the company has not received any look out circular issued by police. “We came to know about it from the press”.