Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Migrant labourers now soft target of anti-social elements

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The migrant labourers who come to the State to work in far-flung and isolated areas are becoming the soft target of anti-social elements including militants and the recent cold blooded murder of eight labourers inside a coal quarry at Nangalbibra points to this fact only.

Soon after the molestation of a girl in Tura, violence erupted in the town in which an innocent labourers was lynched to death and a few days later eight labourers were killed at Nangalbibra.

These labourers come to the State to earn their livelihood by working in coal mines. The State government does not seem to care about their security since coal is a private business.

The Labour Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday refused to speak much on the recent developments in Garo Hills saying “We have discussed the matter with the Chief Minister and he is taking stock of the situation and we are sure he will deal with it.”

It may be mentioned that last month, five labourers were also shot dead in a coal mine in Nangalbibra area by suspected United Achik Liberation Army (UALA).

The suffering of the labourers began when the ANVC (B) militants had shot dead four coal mine labourers in Nangalbibra, South Garo Hills in November, 2010. In December last year, a coal labourer identified as Sunil Sangma from Assam was shot dead by GNLA cadres at Rajaju in South West Khasi Hills. The militants had accused him of being a police informer.

In November 2010, GNLA militants had shot dead two coal labourers in separate incidents in South Garo Hills.

Leaving apart other incidents, a non-local labourer was murdered in Mawiong last year besides two others who were abducted. Police had arrested four KSU members along with a taxi driver for their involvement in the murder.

Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Wednesday also admitted that the people of the state are largely dependent on migrant labourers for their infrastructure works.

He also said that the Government is providing skill development training in the field of mason to local youths of the State so that people do not remain dependent on migrant workers.

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