Migrant workers in relief safe house
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2009: In view of the insecure situation faced by non-local people, particularly labourers in the aftermath of the slaying of three non-local migrant workers by unidentified gun men in the last few days, the Imphal Bazar Board has opened a relief camp for them and their family members at Dharamsala.

Food being prepared for the migrant workers under shelter

A total of 140 non-local people including women and children are taking shelter at the camp.

The campers, majority of whom are Biharis, were evacuated from different parts of Imphal West and Imphal East districts since yesterday.

One non-local barber, Suresh was shot dead inside his saloon at Sagolband Bijoygovinda on February 28 followed by the killings of a sugar-cane juice seller, Rajkumar Choudhury and porter, Sarjiban at Kwaikeithel and Chingamakha respectively on March 1. Following these incidents, the State Government has put its security machinery on high alert.

Incidentally, curfew clamped in the twin capital districts in the wake of the mass protest movements launched in protest against the murder of SDO Kishan and his two staff is still in force.

Though corpses of two migrant workers have been cremated at Imphal, family members of Rajkumar Choudhury, shot dead at Kwakeithel have expressed desire to take the corpse to their native State for performing the last rites.

Imphal Bazar Board convenor Amrik Singh Pahwa said that the relief camp was formally opened today.

Informing that the Board is providing free food and shelter to the non-local labourers, Amrik Singh conveyed that the Government has given assurance to reimburse the amount incurred in running the camp.

The migrant workers will be kept in the camp until situation returns to normal, he added.

The Imphal Bazar Board convenor also called on Gurbachan Jagat this morning.

During his meeting with the Governor, Amrik Singh Pahwa urged for protection of migrant labourers.

He also appealed to the Governor to ensure that families of the migrant labourers killed last year are paid ex-gratia.

Last year, 28 non-local labourers were shot dead in different attacks in the four valley districts.

Saying that killing innocent people is not a solution to any problem, one Ramnath Jha (22), a Bihari taking shelter in the relief camp, appealed to all concerned not to target innocent non-local people.

Ramnath Jha, a graduate from DM College, is a teacher in a private school at Mayang Imphal.

On the other hand, police sources informed that the number of non-local labourers taking shelter in the camp will rise as the evacuation process was still continuing.

Meanwhile, several social organisations have come out strongly against the killing of innocent non-local labourers.

In a statement, the District Women Committee, Imphal East of the United NGOs Mission Manipur termed it an act of shame and cowardice.

Strongly condemning the killing of three non-local manual labourers, the North East Dialogue Forum asserted that the there were any faults on the part of the victims, the same should be disclosed to the public otherwise targeting innocent people should be treated as an act of terrorist.

The Centre for Social Development also denounced the killing of the migrant workers terming it an act of coward and barbarism.

Condemning the killing of the three migrant workers, the Women Action for Development, appeal to all concerned to own responsibility for their act and to come up with a proper clarification.

Joining the outcry, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) appealed to the State Government to provide adequate compensation to families of the deceased and also to ensure security to all from such untoward incidents in future.