Kalay Panch Vinod Gaonkar and youth from the village have threatened a hunger strike outside a mining company at Costi-Sanguem, if the company fails to employ locals and engage trucks owned by locals by the end of this month. Speaking to reporters, Mr Gaonkar said the agitation would highlight the employment of security guards from outside the state, thereby denying locals with employment. Mr Gaonkar did not deny the financial help rendered by the company in the construction of the temple and a clubhouse. "Some villagers working for the company had bought tipper trucks on superannuation with the hope of plying them for the company. The company is reluctant to allow villagers to ply their trucks in their mines,' said Mr Gaonkar. Mr Goankar also criticized the company for ill-treating the youth, who were provided with employment three years back after villagers had resorted to an agitation. Mr Gaonkar alleged that the youth were transferred to the mines at Pale-Usgao as trainees with the assurance that they would be shifted to Costi. "The company has now failed to keep its assurance. The youth face hardships in travelling daily to Pale,' informed Mr Gaonkar. He informed that thefts of iron ore and other costly material from the company premises have increased over the years due to employment of security guards from Manipur and Nepal.