Unable To Go Home Amid Coronavirus Lockdown, Migrant Workers In Gujarat Resort To Vandalism
Police in Surat, Gujarat has detained around 80 migrant workers, mostly from Odisha, for allegedly going on a rampage and setting many handcarts afire demanding that they are allowed to return to their native places amid the lockdown.
The incident happened on Friday night after several migrant workers took to the streets demanding that they are allowed to return to their native states and quick disbursal of unpaid dues.
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According to reports, they were angered over reports of the extension of lockdown, which would make their lives difficult as they do not have any income. While the situation has been brought under control, police have also detained several migrant workers for engaging in violent protests.
#Bad news coming in from #Surat. #Migrant workers in the city came out on the streets in huge numbers asking for their #salaries and #demanding permission to get back home. Torching of vegetable carts, stone pelting and #lathicharging followed. Around 70 #detained. pic.twitter.com/gflyc8ZKsr
¡ª Gulbarga Temperature (@GulbargaTemper1) April 10, 2020
"Hundreds of workers, mostly from Odisha, hit the streets demanding that they should be sent to their native places. They also claimed that the food served to them by an NGO is tasteless and they have to stand in the queue to get the meal," ACP C K Patel said.
"Out of anger, they torched some handcarts and tyres in the Laskana area. We have detained 80 migrant workers. Heavy police deployment and strict vigil by the administration has brought the situation under control," he said.
Migrant workers in Surat came out on road demanding their salaries and asking for permission to go their natives. Around half a dozen vegetable carts were torched as mob went berserk. Around 70 persons detained. @the_hindu pic.twitter.com/uZICjDndNh
¡ª ??ahsana?? (@MDAHSANAHMAD) April 11, 2020
On March 30, over 90 migrant labourers were arrested in Surat city for defying the nationwide lockdown and attacking police over a similar issue.
Millions of migrant workers from across the country have been stuck in cities without a job or income after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
While thousands left on foot and walked for days to reach their native villages as the public transport had also been suspended others had stayed back. But with no jobs and income, many have found it increasingly difficult to survive in the cities, where they lived in rented accommodations.
Though various state governments had announced those who have lost jobs including migrant workers will be provided with food kits and free rations, many have complained that they have not received any support.
In Surat - Gujarat, over 2,500 jobless migrant workers are starving and have not received any relief material from the state government.
¡ª Rofl Republic (@i_theindian) April 11, 2020
PM Modi should realise that #ThaliBajao & #9baje9minute does not fill empty stomachs.pic.twitter.com/U7woMZTVG8
Many NGOs and individuals have also stepped in to provide food for the needy during the lockdown.
On Saturday, the total number of positive coronavirus cases across the country are 7,447, including 6565 active cases of the virus. So far, 642 patients have either been cured or discharged while 239 deaths have been recorded in the country, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Health.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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