Workers brawl over water

Dubai: Three Indian and three Egyptian workers involved in a fight over water at a labour accommodation in Jebel Ali were arrested on Tuesday.

Workers blocked traffic on Shaikh Zayed road but were later told to return to their accommodation at interchange six.

The fight broke out on Monday night among two groups of workers from the Al Huda contracting company over which group holds the right to use cold drinking water facilities provided at their accommodation.

Major Khalid Bin Hazeem, director of the Jebel Ali Police station, said that there were no major injuries. "The workers blocked traffic but were later dispersed. There will be a 24-hour vigil kept on the site."

The workers blamed each other for the unrest. The Asian workers said that they did not intend to stay with the Egyptian workers any longer.

"We planned to march to the ministry of labour after our company officials failed to reach a solution," said a worker.

"The march was abandoned when we were given assurances by the police that a solution will be reached," he added

The workers said that when camp security tried to intervene they were also assaulted.

"A few Egyptian workers wanted to use drinking water for bathing. Some Asians raised their objections and tried to stop them. This resulted in a verbal duel that turned into a physical fight," said an Asian worker.

"What is said about us is untrue," contradicted an Egyptian worker.

"We were taking water for drinking. It is difficult to pin-point who started the fight," he added.

Brigadier Abdul Jalil Mehdi, Deputy Director of Preventive Security at Dubai Police, said: "The workers had a disagreement and some suffered minor injuries. We have made some arrests. A case will be registered against them and referred to the public prosecution."

Company officials have been told to transfer some of the workers to avoid any further unrest.