Bengaluru, May 7: Fear and anxiety gripped migrant workers who lined up at police stations in the city on Wednesday to register for train services without knowing that the state government had cancelled the train facility.
Senior officials in South Western Railway said they were ready to run special trains for migrant workers. On Tuesday evening, the state government decided to withdraw the requests made for 13 such trains to north India after realtors said they need the labourers here.
Migrants continued to stream into the railway station at Majestic, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre and even the bus station hoping for some travel arrangement. Many who were aware of the government web portal, stood in front of the BBMP ward office or police stations for enrolment.
In Varthur, over 100 migrants stood in front of the police station and sought to know what happened to the forms they had submitted four days ago. "We first went to the BBMP office and were shooed away by an official who directed us to go to the police station. We want to go home and demanded that the police help us. There was no response first. Then they came out and beat us," said Pintu Kumar from Mohanpur of Bhagalpur district in Bihar.
Though a video clip accidentally shot by Kumar showed two police personnel charging the cane at them, a police officer from the Varthur station, however, disputed the claim. "The video doesn’t show the cane landing on any person. We were beating the seat and tyre of two-wheelers to send the migrants away," he said.
At Mahadevapura, the workers came in groups and submitted the forms at the police station.
At the railway station in Majestic, a group of labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand had walked from several areas in south Bengaluru only to be told that there is no train. Mahendra, a labourer from Jharkhand, said they received 5 kg rice and nothing else in the last 45 days. "Now, I don’t want food. I don’t want the job or money. I can't get stuck here. I want to go home,” he said.
'Restore dignity'
Activists and leaders wrote an open letter to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa questioning the decision to cancel trains without consulting labourers and protesting the violation of their fundamental rights.
The letter had support of 522 organisations and individuals, including Dalit rights organisations and trade unions. It urged the government to restore the dignity of the migrant workers. "We demand recognition of the autonomy and dignity of the migrant workers to decide their travel plans. No one should be forced either to stay back or to return to their home states," it said.
Comments
I think this is the best way police can do. Whoever do mischief and creating problem in their town should throw them to other state for 5 years. Istead of putting them in Jail.
They not allowed visit their family upto 5 years. Then they knows the values of human being.
send him to hell forever. he is a culprt
Kick him out to china or pakistan border
Huballi is not far....send him to Andaman.....or Saturn would be better....
Good Move... The authorities should recognize the trouble makers and give harsh punishment so that the society will be peaceful...
There are many authorities who wear bangles and fear the cheddis. its time to know that cheddis evil power are diminishing day by day and there is no need to worry and live in fear.
The authoriites should do their jobs without fearing the consequences... Do good to the society ... God's help come when our intention is right.
He should have been booted out at least for one year... so that other monkeys will learn .... He may be following the foot steps of his Guru Mutalik and may be demanding 10 laks to start a riot .....
Good Job done by the district police. he should be thrown behind the bars for ever for disturbing peace
Kick them out of Country.Waste Bodies.
Hats off to super star nukul (mr.s.s.nukul), d.c of uttara kannada, for at last showing the guts and courage of
Power of his respected post, to maintain the law & order of the district, by thrwoing out this so called \gandi naali ka
Keeda\" out of the district for the benefit of the peace loving people belonging to all the communities, who are allowed to live & let live harmoniously. Long live india & indians. Jai ho."
Add new comment